User:Kavetuna/should killer whales be kept in captivity?/

Should killer whales be kept in captivity?
The fact remains that killer whales, a deep ocean predator of the open seas, are being kept in tanks of such size and depth that, proportionately, they might as well be confined in the equivalent of a cetacean large cell. If humans are known to crack under the strain of imprisonment, should we not expect the same of this brainy species? Which begs the question: Does a species that research shows has its own unique language and dialects among pods, that has documented teaching behavior passed between generations, whose brain is complex enough to process multiple dimensions of sound and sight, and who is built for the open water, deserve to be subject to the bounds of concrete tank.

How killer whales live in the wild
There is not just one killer whale but a whole pod of killer whales. A pod is a group of closely related whales. A pod is formed when a female killer whale gives birth to a baby. Which means that the oldest female is the leader because all the other members are her children and her children’s children. A pod is made up of 4 to 40 killer whales. Another pod is called a super pod. The super pod can have up to 150 killer whales in it. The pods are spread out and swim at a steady pace. The super pods usually split up into smaller groups of closely related pods or clans. Killer whales stay in a pod to protect the young and to help with hunting. These pods usually develop their own languages.

Habitat
Killer whales live in the cold waters of the Northern Pacific & Atlantic Oceans & the Arctic Sea. They are often found off the Western coast of North America, near Alaska and British Columbia. Killer whales also live south of Africa and Australia in the cold Arctic Seas and Tropics. In the winter the families of killer whales migrate to warmer waters. That's where their young are born.

Arguments
Some people wonder if the bond form between trainers & orcas adequately replaces the whale’s social life in the wild. They do enjoy having their rubbery skin petted by human hands. But sometimes Orca become so bored that they think up tricks of their own just to kill time. Killer whales have to eat other animals in order to survive, however they are very gentle with humans. Many people believe that orcas should not be held in captivity. In aquariums, orcas tend to live for about 13 years, compared to those in the wild who live 40 to 60 years. Killer whales in captivity often get sick and live on average only into their 20s (though there are exceptions). In the wild, the females typically live into their 50s or beyond and the males at least into their 30s. Advocates for the orca blame the stress of captivity -- the lack of natural social groups, the tight confines, the chemically treated water. These are highly intelligent creatures with entrenched socialization habits and sophisticated communication skills. And you cannot ignore their most obvious feature: their size.