By Damani Hamm

Besides space and the afterlife, the greatest unknowns for humans come from what lies in the deep depths of the oceans around the world. With more than 70% of the earth being covered and saturated by these oceans, who knows how much time will pass before there is an actual assurance that every aspect of each ocean has been checked. The ocean’s mysterious and foreign character evoke many questions in the mind, especially questions about exploration and marine animal safety. Marine animals are some of the most majestic and intriguing animals in the world. What makes marine animals even more interesting is that, since their habitat is mostly unexplored, there is no clarity of what their lives are truly like under the sea.

Over time, humans have become more compatible and connected to marine life through attractions that have exploited animals in the ocean. Sea World is the largest marine based theme park around the world, and the animals that they put on display are usually taken from their natural habitats. Additionally, zoos are another place where marine animals are put on display for human’s benefit. Taking an animal away from their habitat can have drastic physical, emotional, and mental effects on that animal’s well-being. However, the real question is; if marine animals are taken out of their habitat, are places such as Sea World or the Zoo able to resemble a marine animal’s natural habitat enough to keep him or her safe? Additionally, is it okay for marine animals to be put on display for human entertainment?

The Humane Society of the United States reports that many marine animals move “in large groups (called pods), often in tight family units” and taking animals in the ocean outside of their pods can lead to erratic behavior. Additionally, “The sea is to whales and dolphins much as the air is to birds”, which basically entails that marine animals need space where they can move freely in all directions. However, when enclosed within confined space, animals such as dolphins and whales tend to have limited movement and gain an increase in isolation. This increase in isolation also increases the chance of an animal attacking a worker or even a guest.

In the last three decades, three trainers have been killed due to aggression from one particular orca or killer whale. These tragic events are exploited by many animal rights activist groups and add to the reasoning of why they feel animal captivity is wrong. Many animal rights groups will always be opposed to the idea of humans in captivity, regardless of if they’re being treated correctly or not. When Sea World “agreed to end the breeding program for its captive killer whales” in March of 2016, most groups were still not satisfied. With this small change, “animal rights groups have continued to press for even bigger changes at the company’s parks” and will not stop until these changes occur. A multitude of the group’s main focuses are on the release of Sea World’s orcas. The orcas are the largest animals that Sea World keeps in containment, and they are given a tiny fraction of the amount of space necessary to live a regular lifestyle. Human rights activist are always searching and looking for a way to set free the animals in captivity.

The bottom line:

Animals in captivity are molded into how their caretakers care for them. Animal rights activist are an intense and active group of people who truly care for the well-being of marine animals. However, places such as Sea World and the city zoos are always going to leave nostalgic memories in the minds of their visitors. With the continuous battle of change to marine animals in captivity, both groups that are for and against this situation will forever be in a never-ending battle.