Dawn Brancheau's Blackfish Incident

Orcas are majestic, beautiful creatures who do not deserve to be confined to tanks that to humans are like bathtubs. The reason orcas are called killer whales is because they are not animals to be messed with. There should be no human interaction that will cause and orca to feel stressed or threatened. Just like humans, orcas have the ability to feel pain when they are separated from their families. Throughout the years aquatic centers have used orcas as entertainment, but in reality orca captivity has taken a toll on the mental and physical health of these animals as well as endangering their human trainers.

Director, writer, and producer, Gabriella Cowperthwaite, in her documentary, Blackfish, describes the shameless hunting and treatment of killer whales. Cowperthwaite’s purpose is to persuade us into opening our eyes to the reality of what we are doing to killer whales by confining them in captivity. She invents an emotionally wrenching tone in order to transmit to the adult viewers that living in captivity may not be acceptable life for the whales. The film effectively showed that the whales should not be kept in captivity by giving the audience examples of their signs of aggression and displays of emotion.

In 2013, the documentary called Blackfish was released, a story about a killer whale that over the years at SeaWorld killed several people. It highlighted some of the major problems with animals in captivity. SeaWorld, known for having several different animal attractions; Dolphin Cove, Dolphin Nursery, Orca Underwater Viewing, Shark Encounter, Wild Arctic (Habitat) and many more. The organization first started with the intention of learning more about animals in order to educate the public about different behaviors of each animal. Trainers at Seaworld are offered the opportunity to get hands-on training with animals and are eventually are allowed to entertain the public with the skills they have acquired. Over the years there has been controversies with the way SeaWorld treat the animals and the type of behaviors animals portray as a result of its enclosures. SeaWorld's defense of capturing

The movie Blackfish is a documentary about Orca whales and their abhorrent treatment throughout SeaWorld’s history, detailing how the whales should be freed from their enclosures and sent back into the oceans where they belong to protect not only themselves, but to the trainers and visitors of SeaWorld as well. Blackfish revolves around one Orca named Tilikum, at 12,000 pounds he was the dominant one at SeaWorld. However, Tilikum’s public murder of three trainers changed the way people looked at SeaWorld. Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite released a documentary in 2013 titled Blackfish detailing SeaWorld’s horrific treatment of its marine animals, especially the Orcas, in captivity. Ms. Cowperthwaite’s vision of Blackfish entailed “reaching

Orcas were not the only animals at SeaWorld exhibiting aggressive behavior. Several instances have been documented in which dolphins have acted aggressively to both a SeaWorld trainer and SeaWorld patrons. According to USA Today’s article, “Captive animals ' attack on trainers and public” dolphins have engaged in aggressive behavior. “In 2000 a dolphin entangled a trainer in a net, spun her around and held her underwater during a dolphin capture exercise. The trainer suffered three factures and torn ligaments in her right arm. California’s OSHA investigated and fined the park $375. SeaWorld responded by changing the procedures for such exercises”. In 2006 two patrons were bit by dolphins at the Dolphin Cove exhibit. A dolphin bit a boy at the petting attraction while under the supervision of a SeaWorld Employee. Three weeks prior to this incident a six year old boy was also bitten at the same Dolphin Cove exhibit. OSHA did not present SeaWorld with a citation because no employees were injured in either situation. SeaWorld spokeswoman Becca Bides responded to the dolphin attack by stating that no changes would be made to the exhibit. The most recent incident involving a dolphin biting a patron occurred in 2012. According to CBS News article, “Girl Bitten While Feeing Dolphin at

SeaWorld is a billion dollar company based in the U.S. They specialise in the taking care of animals, such as killer whales, dolphins and sea lions. They have over 67,000 animals in their care and are rescuing more and more every day. Despite common belief, SeaWorld does not abuse the animals themselves. The workers of SeaWorld try their best every single day to look after every species of animal, and in return, are now being hassled and abused for it. Although being held in captivity is not the best way for an animal to spend their life, it has its benefits. Without these animals being cared for by SeaWorld, many of them would be dead. SeaWorld has a rescue program, in which they recuperate thousands of sick marine and land based animals every year. They do not seize healthy animals for captivity.

Recently, environmental controversies are major issues. Since the environmental movement in the 1960’s, the mass media has brought this matter forth (Mass). In many countries, efforts of the media help the citizens become well aware of what is wrong and what actions can be performed. As a policy to inform the people, this leads to the communication via internet (Ahmad). Within the United States, about 5,500 animals are killed, and those alive have improper habitats (World). Through the media and internet, being at its height, foundations, companies, and the average citizen are able to voice their opinion and create changes for the better. This sense of messaging allowed animal foundations to ask for help and let many speak up about controversies,

To begin with, I am against whale captivity. I will be telling you three thing and then how I feel about them. So I hope you are ready to listen. LET 'S GO!!!!

Blackfish, a documentary by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, a historically observed impact of the captivity of killer whales. This Documentary focuses on the orca Tilikum, who was captured off the coast of Iceland. On February 21, 1991, Sealand trainer Keltie Byrne fell into the pool with Tilikum. She was pulled to the bottom by Tilikum, tossed around, and drowned. It took Sealand employees two hours to recover her. She was the first to have been killed because of Tilikum’s stress, frustration, and confinement. Sea Land of the Pacific in Victoria, Canada and SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida tries to explain Tilikum’s aggressive behavior as a result of his restricted life in the marine parks. this topic will soon becomes the documentaries biggest claim. supporting this, Blackfish sets up

For years people have been captured by the beauty and grace of Orca whales. SeaWorld is a big reason for this love to watch the whales before. There they have designated time slots where the whales and trainers come out and perform a show with several jumps as well as the animals will spray the surrounding audience. The whales and their trainers form a bonds with certain whales not all the whales get along with a person. A trainer from SeaWorld described it as signs that the whale would show to a certain person. She also noted that whales will act noticeably different with certain people (Lee). However these are still wild animals and are completely unpredictable. People all over are now protesting that the whales be out of captivity or at least stop having shows.

Imagine, a 22.5 feet long killer whale that weighs 12,000 pounds, slammed and dragged a person in the water who only weighed 125 pounds. The image is gruesome but that’s what happened to SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau. A respected 40 year old who fought hard to stay alive against the largest orca in captivity. Accordingly to witnesses Tili (short for Tilikium), the Orca went wild during the Dine with Shamu Show, then attacked and killed Dawn. The event shocked everyone because Orcas are usually very friendly but Dawn Brancheau was the third victim of Tilikium. There has been no record of people getting harmed by Orcas in the wild and that raised many question about Tili’s sudden outburst. Researches have shown that whales in captivity have

Whale, Whale, Whale, what do we have here? Are Orcas being tortured? Let's find out! I think Sea World should eliminate the orca breeding program.

Throughout many years the topic of whether or not SeaWorld’s show called “One Ocean,” also referred to as the “Shamu Show,” should continue to go on and what they should do with the Orcas they have held in captivity. The argument brought on mainly by the organization known as PETA, takes a stand over how using animals for human entertainment is considered animal cruelty and should release them back into the wild. Due to PETA’s argument about the show and their many followers supporting them, SeaWorld had no other choice than to disband the show entirely on January 2, 2017 at the end of their Christmas Celebration. The question still remains, what should happen to the animals that are held within SeaWorld’s tanks, since they no longer

In 2013, Gabriela Cowperthwaite directed the documentary Blackfish. This documentary is about Tilikum, an orca from SeaWorld that has taken the lives of many trainers. The documentary makes the claim that orcas should be freed from captivity. While in captivity they are causing harm to both themselves, humans, and the other orcas. Blackfish is a great example of an argument that can be rhetorically analyzed because it has pathos, ethos, and logos.

Engrossed in believing that circuses and animal amusement parks are places of enchantment, many are unaware of what is happening behind the scenes. Major companies like The Ringling Brothers have been around for 146 years, giving elephants and other animals an extensive period of suffrage. In 2016 it came to the company's attention that most of the states in America had become anti-circus, leading to the retirement of the iconic elephants. Building a 200-acre center was an act put in place to better support and take care of the elephants that would no longer take part in the shows. However, not all organizations are truthful and careful about protecting the rights and safety of the animals used for programs. Unconcerned for the well-being of