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HERE'S WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT MARINE ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY

4/17/2015

42 Comments

 
I recently read several articles about marine animals in captivity and I also watched a documentary called Blackfish about an orca in captivity.  I’m going to tell you the pros and cons about marine animals in captivity and my opinion about it.

When marine animals are in captivity, they are put together with other animals that they don’t know.  That sometimes causes them to hurt each other.  They also sometimes hurt people.  The documentary Blackfish talked about Tilikum, an orca who has killed three people while in captivity.  Another thing that can happen to orcas in captivity is fin collapse.  Fin collapse is when the dorsal fin flops over.  It happens to all male orcas and lots of female orcas in captivity, but only about 1 percent of orcas in the wild. 

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Above is a picture of Tilikum with his collapsed fin.
The life of marine animals in captivity is very different than in the wild.  Dolphins in captivity spend most of their time on the surface.  Dolphins in the wild spend most of their time under the water.  Whales and dolphins in the wild swim long distances, sometimes even 100 miles at a time!  Here’s one thing that’s really different that I just noticed myself.  In the wild, they are free to just swim around and do whatever they want.  When they are in captivity, they have to do shows and entertain people, and the rest of the time they’re locked in a little swimming pool with not much to do.  

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I looked for articles for and against keeping marine animals in captivity and I was only able to find one article in favor of it, The case for captive animals, by John Nightingale.  He is a biologist and the president of the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre. He’s in favor of marine animals in captivity because he says that people need to connect with nature more often. He says that more species are becoming extinct, and if people can come and learn about them, they will care about conservation. One way aquariums help marine animals is by rescuing them, rehabilitating them, and releasing them into the wild.

I don’t agree with most of John’s arguments.  I agree that people should connect with nature more often, but I don’t think that they should do it by going to an aquarium.  Technically, an aquarium isn’t nature.  Some better ways to connect with nature would be going to a forest or taking a boat ride in the ocean or going snorkeling.  Animals in the wild are real nature. I also don’t agree that going to zoos or aquariums makes people want to protect animals and nature. Animals in aquariums or zoos are there to entertain people.  I’ve been to a zoo many times, and I haven’t done anything different to protect animals and nature because of it.  I think people go to zoos and aquariums to be entertained and see the animals.  I do agree that it’s good to rescue, rehabilitate, and release animals to the wild, but I don’t agree with keeping them in captivity unless they cannot survive in the wild.

I think that animals should only be kept in captivity if they are injured, and should be released if possible.  They should not be kept just for entertainment.  One thing that frustrated me about the documentary Blackfish was that after Tilikum killed all those people, and they knew he wanted to come out, they still kept him because he was worth a lot of money.  I read that Sea World only spends .0006 percent of its money on rescue and rehabilitation!  If you buy a ticket to an aquarium that keeps animals for entertainment, the money goes to more capturing.  Instead, you should go to places that only take in hurt animals and release them if they can survive in the wild.  Even better, you can see them in the wild if you take a boat ride in the ocean!
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Before I started this article, I really, really, really, really wanted to go to Sea Wolrd, because dolphins are my favorite animal and I wanted to see them.  When I learned what the dolphins go through and how they are treated, I did not want to go.  It would be the last place I would want to go.  Next year, my family is going to Disney World.  One of our plans was to go to Sea World, but now we will not go.  Instead, I want to see dolphins by going on a boat ride in the ocean.  I hope that you’ve also changed your mind after reading my article!

SOURCES:
http://grist.org/list/seaworld-only-spends-0-0006-percent-of-revenue-on-animal-rescue-and-rehabilitation/
http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/03/02/Nightingale.vancouver.whale/index.html
http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/captive_marine/facts/marine_captivity.html
http://www.worldanimalprotection.us.org/our-work/animals-wild/marine-animals-captivity
http://www.bornfreeusa.org/facts.php?p=2688&more=1
Blackfish documentary
42 Comments
Grandma Maraibeth
4/17/2015 14:28:47

Great article. Hope you get to see some wild dolphins next summer.

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Kailyn
4/18/2015 00:54:22

Thanks Grandma! I hope so too!

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Uncle Squirt
4/18/2015 00:27:45

Hello Kailyn,
Lacey and I just read your post and really liked it! Great job!

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Kailyn
4/18/2015 00:54:57

Thanks Uncle Squirt!

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Grandma Norris
4/18/2015 01:40:03

Very well researched information! Here is another aspect to consider.... Many more people get a chance to see animals up close and may not be able to afford seeing animals in their habitat. There is educational value too. I agree that there may be 2 or 3 sides to this difficult issue. I am proud of you for researching this!! Love, grandma

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Kailyn
4/19/2015 08:52:56

Thanks grandma!

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Barbara Mieirs
4/21/2015 06:11:24

Grandma Norris, Yes many people cant afford to see animals in the wild. We cannot see 99% of wild animals in the wild. But keeping them confined in captivity and made to perform which is so abnornal for them and cruel is not the answer. Please read about them. Check out documentaries and wildlife photography. National Geographic photographers go to extraordinary lengths to educate people and share as much info and film of all wildlife on our planet. From the highest elevations to the deepest depths of oceans. The aim of Sea World is to make money off these poor creatures. Please help #EmptyTheTanks! Tell your friends to never buy a ticket to a show.

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Jen and Mark Benson
4/18/2015 04:59:13

Great job! We love the passion you have for animal welfare!

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Kailyn
4/19/2015 08:54:02

Thank you Jen and Mark!

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Grandma Julia
4/19/2015 05:47:15

Kailyn -- I am so impressed that you understood at your age that keeping animals for entertainment may often harm the animals. You rock! You also have to be careful trying to see animals in the wild though, because when many people go to look at animals in the wilderness often they destroy the habitat, just from too many people walking over the same area (and trampling it down). This is happening to many of the coral reefs where people go to snorkel - here's an article:
http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/the_green_lantern/2009/08/reefer_sadness.html

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Kailyn
4/19/2015 08:55:38

Thanks Grandma Julia!

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Barbara Mieirs
4/21/2015 06:13:50

Thank you Julia for the informative comment. Bravo!

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Dominique Bouillet
4/19/2015 09:01:08

I really like what you wrote about captivity. Do you know that Disney World Epcot has captive dolphins too! :(

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Kailyn
4/19/2015 09:10:23

Thanks, I didn't know that!

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Barbara Mieirs
4/21/2015 06:15:36

I hope she sees your comment about the captive dolphins there at Disney World. Thank you Dominique

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Betsy
4/19/2015 10:59:59

I posted your article on Facebook and people loved it. Patricia wrote, "This is wonderful. I shared this to Oceans of Freedom." Robin said, "Wow.....very smart little girl......there is hope for the future." Zach said, "Fantastic!" (He's a writer and filmmaker.) Rosella said, "Really great!" 4 people shared this. Robin added, "Written by a very smart 10 year old." I think you're amazing, Kailyn!

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Kailyn
4/20/2015 08:10:33

Thanks Betsy!

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Zach A.
4/20/2015 13:18:48

Kailyn you are awesome! Keep it up :) This is very well-written and researched. Glad to write on the same site as you! :)))

Barbara Mieirs
4/21/2015 06:17:24

Yes, you are amazing, Kailyn! Keep on shining bright!

lindia d ward link
4/19/2015 11:31:33

So great to see such a mature little girl. My granddaughter of 6 was my reason to change. I have taken her to alaska, on a whale watching boat to see whales in the wild, also took her to see the whales off martha's vinyard year before last. It is my mission to educate her about the world we live in. Making plans to go back to washington state again to see the new baby wales in the J pod! Enjoy your life Kailyn., maybe you and my granddaughter will both grow up and become marine biologist, I know yall will be activist to stop capture!

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Kailyn
4/20/2015 08:13:39

It's so cool that you went on a whale watch! I hope I can do something like that someday, too.

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Dayna
4/20/2015 02:57:58

Way to go young lady !

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Kailyn
4/20/2015 08:14:07

Thanks Dayna!

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Ellen Ewers
4/20/2015 05:59:47

STOP IT...NOW........PLEASE!

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Ramona
4/21/2015 00:12:48

Hey Kailyn!

Great article! And it's amazing that you, at your age, are so much wiser than people all over the world! I love dolphins, too, especially orcas. Although I never saw one yet. But I did saw bottlenose dolphins in the Tiergarten Nürnberg back here in Germany. I was fascinated by them. But they seemed to be ... sad? Odd? They didn't even really swim. I really don't know. And the other people around? They laughed and sometimes even made fun of them. So, you're right - they don't want to protect anything. They went to the zoo to be entertained. Animals shouldn't suffer for our entertainment.
I wanna go to the ocean one day, too. To see an orca. I wil not go to Loro Parque or Marineland Antibes to do so. And I really wish for you, that you will see the most beautiful dolphins out there in the ocean on your trip.
Keep up your work! You're amazing! Kisses for your cats and your dog!

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Kailyn
4/22/2015 09:08:53

Thank you, I hope you get to see a wild orca, too!

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Sue Dickason
4/21/2015 10:38:01

Thank you Kailyn - a lovely article which I enjoyed very much. Such an amazing insight for one so young. Congratulations and I hope you get to see some dolphins on your holiday.

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Kailyn
4/22/2015 09:09:29

Thanks Sue!

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Joel Simka
4/29/2015 02:29:21

Wonderful!!! Well said little lady, there are plenty of alternatives to marine parks to see and enjoy whales and dolphins. I know that marine expeditions on boats, like whale watching tours and diving excursions cost more money (which is everyone's argument for not doing these things) but it is well worth it to see actual nature as opposed to fake nature, as you pointed out so well. I am studying to be a teacher and my goal is that more kids like yourself express their feelings through reading and writing, and you could not have picked a more appropriate "soap box" to stand on.

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Becky
5/17/2015 12:53:06

Just to inform you.
http://www.freethedisneydolphins.org/p/about-dolphins.html

I myself am new at researching captive performing Wild animals and are torn. Circuses are really big in my research right now and it is all very sad. Your article is a good read and I hope young ones see what we have seen to late.
Continue the word.

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Suzanne
5/17/2015 19:37:57

I'm from the Netherlands and your article reached me as well! I hope kids in my country will think about captive dolphins like you do, and therefor not go to any dolphinarium or aquarium anymore!

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Jill Morris
5/18/2015 05:01:10

Nice work, Kailyn! I'm sharing your article as I do all the well-researched writings I come across. You are making a difference, young lady! Now see if Disney can get on board with us! Much love and respect to you :)

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Beverly Bravo
6/21/2015 11:57:11

Great research and information. Thank you!

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Jessica
9/26/2015 23:12:52

Hey there Kailyn!

I just wanted to say how great your article is! I stumbled upon it while I was busy searching for more information on marine animals kept in captivity and this really made me ponder on a lot of new information! Though, I have a question that I can't seem to find a straight answer to; what about animals that were born in captivity? Wouldn't releasing them be a great danger to their health as our oceans are so polluted and the water in the marine worlds are a lot cleaner? If you could help me it would be greatly appreciated!

Also, I wanted to add that when I was in Florida, Clearwater they had a lot of boat trips you could go on to see the dolphins (they're my favourite animal too!) and you're almost guaranteed to see one!

I wish you the best of luck in your future adventures and your MARS project! You are such an inspiring young lady!

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Zach Affolter
10/25/2015 14:40:13

Hi Kailyn, my name is Zach and I also write here. Thank you for such a heartfelt and well-researched blog post! I wish I had seen this sooner. This is an issue that I am particularly passionate about and I have gone so far as petitioning my school board to remove trips to SeaWorld and I also helped to organize the largest march for a captive cetacean ever. I cried so much while reading your post. Thank you for your activism and research! I wish that there were more people like you in the world :)

If you ever need anything, please feel free to contact me!

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Zach
10/25/2015 14:42:19

Oops! Just remembered that I DID see this post a long time ago and shared widely, been so long that I forgot haha. Glad I came across this again, though! :)

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Sophie
3/4/2016 06:54:24

Hi kailyn, now that I read you're blog on animal's in captivity I'm wondering if swimming with trains dolfins in places like Mexico or Florida is the same as swimming with captive dolfins

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Soph
3/4/2016 06:57:14

I Ment traind

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Lily
4/10/2016 20:19:33

I really enjoyed this! I am writing an opinion piece on dolphins in captivity and needed to do research so this really helped!

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Gaby
5/10/2016 15:40:58

Thank you so much for this article! It was absolutely fantastic. Everything you wrote was 100% true and very informative. Keep up the good work! I hope to see more articles soon :)

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PennyJenny
9/18/2016 11:13:37

Even though you didn't write much about the pros, this was very well written! I enjoyed it very much.

Reply
Maci vivvy link
10/24/2017 17:37:16

Hi

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    Blog by KAILYN 
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    My name is Kailyn. I’m 10 and in 4th grade. I live in Forest Lake, Minnesota. I love animals, reading, writing, investigating, swimming, art, and theater. I speak Spanish and I'm learning to play the ukulele. 
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    I have two cats adopted from the Humane Society and one dog adopted from a rescue service. My favorite animal is the dolphin, and I love learning about new animals. I want to keep learning about animals and share what I learn by writing.
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