World Orca Day: Shedding light on the cruel reality of marine parks

On a day like today, we want to celebrate orcas but also spread awareness that many whales and dolphins are still being held captive in marine parks to perform for visitors who know little about the suffering and pain that come with living, day-in-day-out, in barren tanks that are worlds apart from their natural habitats.

For many of us, it’s unimaginable to think of these magnificent creatures reduced to swimming in endless circles and performing circus tricks in highly stressful environments. Despite growing awareness and the efforts of many tour operators who have stopped selling tickets to such performances, some large travel companies, like TUI Group, continue to advertise and profit from this form of animal cruelty.

In 2013, the documentary Blackfish brought the cruelty to light and put emphasis on the dangers that come with keeping wild animals in an environment where they don’t belong. The film revealed the horrible conditions orcas endure in captivity, from confinement in small tanks to the forced separation of mothers and calves. It also highlighted the psychological and physical toll on them, leading to abnormal behaviours and shortened lifespans.

Following the documentary's release, SeaWorld faced a significant backlash, including a 33% drop in their stock market value and a decline in attendance. The pressure led to SeaWorld announcing in 2016 that it would end its orca breeding program, making their current generation of captive orcas the last. Unfortunately, this doesn’t apply to smaller species of dolphins like the bottlenose dolphin, for example.

Despite these advancements, thousands of whales and dolphins remain in captivity worldwide and it is time to put an end to these outdated and cruel shows.  

Here are a few ways you can help: 

1. Avoid marine parks

    Opt for more ethical ways to spot whales and dolphins in the wild, where they belong

2. Educate others

    Share information about the realities of orca captivity and encourage others to make compassionate choices

3. Become part of our community

   We’ll contact you when you can take action to protect dolphins and whales – keep your eyes peeled! Sign up below 👇👇👇