Imagine being a 12,000 pound killer whale used to swimming hundreds of miles a day in the open ocean with a close-knit family pod. Now, imagine being torn away from your home and family at the age of two and held in captivity for thirty-two years. This is the case with captive male orca Tilikum. Tilikum was first held at Sealand in British Columbia, Canada where he was involved in the death of Keltie Byrne, a twenty-year-old trainer. After that tragedy, Sealand was shut down and Tilikum was sold to SeaWorld Orlando in 1992. He has been a resident there for twenty-three years with no future plan of release. Tilikum is not the only orca whale to face this inhumane treatment. Hundreds of orcas and other cetaceans are held captive around the world and their release is long overdue.

Because Tilikum has been held in captivity for so long, it is unlikely that he will be able to fully assimilate into a standard life for wild male orcas. As a result, the next step is to create a sea pen for him. A sea pen is an enclosed portion of an ocean or bay where animals such as dolphins or whales spend time being rehabilitated or officially retired. They are often constructed using a series of buoys and nets to mark the boundaries. Many sources argue that sea pens are worse for orcas than tanks because of the way they are constructed. However, this is incorrect and misguided. Those sources are referencing poorly constructed pens. The sea pens are too shallow to provide sufficient space and protection from the sun, and they are not in a good location to receive consistent water flow to keep the water clean. On the other hand, good sea pens are placed in areas of an ocean or bay where there is constant water flow and minimum human and boat traffic. Effective sea pens are also deep enough for the creatures living in them. Deeper water protects cetaceans from sunburn that is common when living in shallow, reflective tanks (Freedom for Whales par. 10). Overall, sea pens are bigger and provide a natural environment for the creatures living in them.

In a sea pen, Tilikum will be taught how to hunt and eat live fish again. A team of trainers will assist in his rehabilitation into normal physical condition (Zimmermann par. 4). Show business trainers would no longer be necessary because there would be no shows. The orcas living in sea pens would be living as close to their natural lifestyle as possible. To facilitate the shift from constant human contact to very little contact, Tilikum will be able to be stimulated without direct contact from his caretakers. Because he would be living in his natural habitat, the environment around him would suffice for stimulation (Rose par. 14). Tilikum will have a better life in a sea pen. He will be able to live in his natural environment and be provided with a more reasonable amount of space.
As citizens of the world with knowledge about the inhumane treatment of these animals, it is our duty to push this issue. It should not be forgotten. If it is forgotten, the actions of Sea World will continue, uncontrollable creatures will remain captured, and the death toll of marine theme park trainers will rise. It is the duty of normal everyday citizens to raise funds and awareness for these sea pens. Anyone can help by donating money or time to a marine wildlife conservation organization. Because sea pens can cost $30,000 to an upwards of one million dollars per year, the revenue gained from visitors will likely help to pay that cost. After the pens are built, it will be beneficial to visit these pens as tourist attractions. By doing this, tourists will support the freedom of whales. Attendance will send a clear message to marine theme parks that having sea pens is beneficial to the animals and that sea pens are able to produce  revenue.

It is important to take into consideration the value of an animal’s life. There have been numerous studies on orcas that show evidence of strong family bonds, increased intelligence, and even human-like emotions. Is it fair to keep such intelligent creatures in a pen equivalent to the size of a swimming pool? Even though some animals have no chance of ever completely assimilating back into their natural environment, is it our responsibility to ensure the comfort and safety of these animals? These are the questions that need to be asked and acted upon as the topic of animal rights and activity continues to grow.


Works Cited
Rose, Naomi A. “A win-win solution for captive orcas and marine theme parks”. CNN. Cable News Network, 28 October 2013. Web. 21 September 2015.
Rose, Naomi A. “How to free a killer whale”. CNN. Cable News Network, 2 March 2010. Web. 29 September 2015.
“Keeping Cetaceans in Sea Pens: A Basic Rundown”. Freedom for Whales. Tumblr.com, n.d. Web. 29 September 2015.
Zimmermann, Tim. “The Monumental Plans That Could Set Captive Orcas Free”. The Dodo. TheDodo.com, 22 March 2014. Web. 23 September 2015.