In captivity, many orcas suffer from poor physical and mental health. In the wild, they can easily travel 50 to 100 miles per day. However, in captivity, a typical aquarium is only twice the size, forcing animals to swim in small circles or float aimlessly. “The stress of captivity can cause orcas and other marine mammals to engage in neurotic behaviors that, understandably, can lead to tragic consequences,” says Elliot Katz, president of In Defense of Animals, an advocacy group -be animal. These outcomes can include premature death, depression, and injuries among coaches. “Science has confirmed that in captivity, dolphins and whales suffer high mortality rates, low reproductive success and can suffer physical and psychological disorders. There is no justification for the capture, trade and display of these wild animals,” according to Daniel Turner of the Born Free Foundation, another organization dedicated to conservation and animal welfare. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay In the wild, killer whales typically travel in groups of five to 30. Sometimes groups combine to form a group of 100 orcas with a complex social hierarchy headed by females. Researchers believe that killer whales have an advanced communication system, with different dialects. In captivity, killer whales are often isolated, except during shows and training. They are unable to communicate with each other or establish social relationships as they would in the wild. Another immoral practice is the mass breeding of these whales. They are over bred, crossbred and even inbred. Tilikum, the largest orca in captivity, is SeaWorld's main source of sperm, and activists believe his value as a stallion is the main reason SeaWorld won't release him into the wild. Farming methods often pose safety conditions and threaten the health of animals. In the wild, orcas choose their own mates and families stay together for life. To communicate, navigate, and hunt for food, orcas rely on echolocation, which is the process of making sounds and then interpreting the vibrations. Sound waves bounce off objects and return, telling the orc what's around it. In captivity, the tanks are made of solid concrete, which causes sound waves to bounce off the walls, making it impossible for orcas to locate their food or navigate by echolocation. Many killer whales in captivity die prematurely, with an average lifespan of around ten years. In the wild, they live between 50 and 80 years. The first orca held in captivity lasted a day; she swam around her enclosure at high speed, crashing into the walls of her tank. Captive killer whales pose a danger to trainers, with four documented deaths and a long list of attacks. The most recent occurred in 2010, when Tilikum allegedly grabbed her trainer, Dawn Brancheau, by the hair and dragged her underwater. Tilikum, whose stage name is Shamu at SeaWorld Orlando, weighs 12,000 pounds and Brancheau was one of their most experienced trainers. “When these animals are taken into captivity, they can become very hostile, depressed and even suicidal,” says Howard Garrett, director of the nonprofit Orca Network. Tragically, Tilikum was also involved in the death of a trainer in 1991, when Keltie Lee Byrne accidentally fell into the.