Stories of aquariums and theme parks unethically relocating marine mammals and forcing them to serve as a form of entertainment have gained attention. In this article, we'll be going into depth about the horrific consequences of capturing animals and the cruelty they face while being held captive in artificial habitats.
Capturing
One of the most brutal methods of capturing marine mammals is known as the drive hunt, in which groups of animals are driven to the shore through loud noises and boats. After they reach the surface, they are trapped by nets and driven away. During this process, young mammals may be separated from their mothers forever and some die from suffocation in the nets. The suffering they undergo just to be sold to aquariums and theme parks is incredibly inhumane and amoral.
Captivity
The artificial habitats marine mammals are kept in don't contain the necessary elements that satisfy their biological needs. Whales and dolphins are intelligent, emotional, and social animals that need the vastness of the ocean and access to their pods to remain physically and mentally healthy. In the ocean, there are no boundaries and concrete walls restricting movement; in pools and tanks, animals aren't able to swim as much as they normally would, leading to obesity. In the wild, dolphins engage in mating, hunting, and communicating through echolocation with their pod members. All these natural processes are hindered when kept in small tanks.
Dolphins, whales, and other animals have also been drugged to manage stress and boredom. With a complete lack of freedom, animals swim in countless circles, growing frustrated and bored exponentially. They've broken teeth chewing on metal bars and concrete walls in their tanks. Additionally, the chlorine and copper sulfate used to maintain clean tanks have caused dolphins' skin to peel and in some cases, caused them to go blind. Confined in isolation and cramped tanks, most animals die prematurely from pneumonia, ulcers, and stress-related diseases. If they were left in the wild, all of the issues mentioned above would not exist.
Interactive Attractions
In many theme parks, programs encourage visitors to paint with, pet, and ride on animals. This can be stressful, frightening, and painful for marine mammals. One of the most damaging activities is being pet or kissed by visitors because they are forced to beach themselves for long periods of time. This can lead to crushed organs in the long run. Furthermore, as hundreds of thousands of different people visit these attractions, animals can be exposed to foreign bacteria and substances that can be detrimental to their health.
Alternatives
Instead of visiting marine parks and aquariums that keep ocean animals in captivity, participate in other activities that bring you closer to wildlife. These include going on whale tours, visiting sanctuaries, or just going on a hike. There are so many ways to learn about both water and land animals that don't involve capturing them from the wild.
Dolphins, whales, porpoises, and many more do not belong in swimming pools. Fortunately, new reforms supporting the ban of keeping marine mammals from captivity have been urged.Thank you for reading!
Written by: Ashlee Liu
References:
“Aquariums and Marine Parks.” PETA, 6 Mar. 2020, www.peta.org/issues/animals-in-entertainment/zoos-pseudo-sanctuaries/aquariums-marine-parks/#:%7E:text=The%20Trouble%20With%20’Interactive’%20Programs&text=Animals%20in%20%E2%80%9Cpetting%20pools%E2%80%9D%20are,to%20constant%20interaction%20with%20humans.
Estrada, Orietta. “5 Reasons You Should Never Visit a Theme Park That Keeps Wild Animals.” One Green Planet, 3 June 2017, www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/5-reasons-you-should-never-visit-a-theme-park-that-keeps-wild-animals.
This article is great + great advice