Blackfish: Myth and Reality - Movie Review Example

Blackfish: Myth & Reality Blackfish The killer whale (orca) has become a hot debate topic following the documentary “Blackfish,” recently premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2013.The documentary focused on a 12,000 lb bull, orca Tilikum. Orca lived in captivity at the SeaWorld Orlando Park for 30 years and has been linked with the deaths of three people, including the recent death of trainer, Dawn Brancheau, in 2010. The movie presents an emotional petition against SeaWorld for holding orcas unethically in captivity, mistreating these marine creatures, citing captivity as the cause of animal leading to the deadly attacks on people. The movie-makers also expose vested interests of organization like SeaWorld. The film has evoked questions about potential negative effects associated with behavioral differences between wild and caged animals, which offset the benefits of the captive animal programs. Based on the documentary, captive animal programs result in negative behaviors that endanger both the animals and humans without having noticeable benefits for either caged animal or human visitor. Although the issue of holding wild animals in captivity is complex, this investigation will explore whether the issues cited in the documentary are weighty and demand attention or if they are mere propaganda. The research will also examine evidences pertaining to the practices of SeaWorld in the context of above allegations and verify the arguments of the documentary to conclude whether or not it is justified to keep animals in captivity. TOLUMIN Breakdown of Blackfish Argument The central theme of the film “Blackfish” is animal cruelty, with reference to the practices of SeaWorld Company. The producer of the documentary, Cowperthwaite, holds the training institute responsible for all the deaths of marine trainers. She argues that keeping animals in captivity is barbaric and negatively influence animals and humans. The documentary supports this claim by citing trainer deaths and the aggressive behavior of whales in captivity, particularly emphasizing about their emotional wellbeing and physical health problems like flopped over dorsal fins and raked skin. Based on Dogwoof movie presentation, SeaWorld criticism is not only with respect to the illegal procurement of the whales from the wild, but also about the way these mammals are bred and reared in the captive environments of these training institutes. She has also accused the group for concealing the facts about the deaths and propagating false information to the public about the welfare of whales. Cowperthwaite’s argument is founded on the assumption that the audiences also share her perspective that it is unethical for people to use animals for profit-generating activities and entertainment. She woos the audience to connect her arguments to the work of organizations like PETA, which are working for the cause of animal protection and rights. SeaWorld has posted rebuttals to Cowperthwaite’s claims at various forums like their website and interviews. The company’s official website (http://seaworld.com) notes that around 1,500 zoological experts in the organization provide dedicated care to the animals and a huge investment is directed to fund its programs. SeaWorld’s rescue program focuses on animal adoption, shelter provision and rehabilitation of needy animals to enable successful reintroduction into the wild. The institute claims to have saved about 23, 000 animals since the inception of its adoption and shelter program. Burford argues that “SeaWorld has implemented significant safety precautions within the past 20 years, and the vast majority of the documented whale aggression occurred towards the beginning of that 20-year period” (Para 5). The trainers of the institute have also have also supported the organization’s course. Kyle Kittleson, a former trainer at SeaWorld, has provided insightful information about the whole issue of keeping animals in captivity, particularly sea animals. According to Kyle, animals kept in captivity are in safe hands and are provided with the best care. He asserts that organizations like SeaWorld are dedicated to protect animal welfare and ensure their safety. According to Antrim, SeaWorld is conserving and rehabilitating species by keeping it in captivity (229). According to a SeaWorld spokesperson to CNN, while killer whales in the wild face threatening food shortage, SeaWorld provides them adequate food, exercise opportunities, mental stimulation as well as veterinary care. Evaluation of the Evidence in Blackfish The evidences presented in the movie require further examination and research for validity. The film’s claim that flopped over dorsal fin in captive whales correlates to numerous deaths is an opinion because it lacks statistical data and previous researches to back up the claim. However, the high number of deaths of orca in captivity cannot be overlooked, thus the need for thorough investigation. The second evidence on malpractices at SeaWorld, provided in form of transcripts is not sufficient to conclude gross violation of animal rights. These testimonies are mere opinions of people, subject to bias. However, the information remains relevant validity of the film’s claim can be established. Therefore, the evidences presented are not sufficient enough to validate the claims in the documentary. Nonetheless, these arguments may be accepted as they represent typical shared views of individual protectors of animal rights and institutions like PETA. Captive animal programs in zoos, marine parks and aquaria have been part of human culture for a long time. These programs affect both the captive animals and the humans who come in contact with them. Organizations like PETA and others of similar course are totally against keeping animals in captivity, particularly for entertainment purposes. PETA has presented evidence to suggest that amusement park owners inject animals with psychotropic drugs to coax them for performing senseless tricks. In connection with claims of animal rights activists, the information presented in the documentary are accurately drawn and are not obsolete.The strengths of the argument in the documentary remain appropriate to the extent of citing the issues related to keeping animals in captivity. However, their petition against SeaWorld needs verification. The official response of the spokesperson from SeaWorld in the interview with CNN and the views shared by marine trainer at the institute make leave questions as to whether “Blackfish” was developed only on facts or a mere presentation of skewed perceptions. Research on similar kinds of organizations indicates that the documentary only presents one extreme of the situation as animals have wild tendencies even if they are allowed to live in their natural habitats and aggression is also evident in those settings as well. The natural environments are also full of challenges pertaining to food and hygienic ecosystem (Antrim 229). The Findings from the Research The research presents evidences to prove that the life of these creatures is not rosy even in the natural habitats, where animals have problems related to paucity of food and hygiene. The disputed “Blackfish” hails from the extended clan of Orcinus orca or orcas. It is naturally found in inland waters of Washington State and British Columbia. Field studies across the world have revealed that dozens of orca communities are widely distributed in various marine habitats, each having a marked vocal repertoire, a special diet and its peculiar and unique methods of hunting along with well-developed social systems. These communities serve as nomadic foraging tribes depicting lifetime association of mothers with their off springs as in humans. Another striking similarity they share with humans regards their dialects, which bear similarity to human language groups. In recent years, there have been a number of challenges with Orcas. These creatures thrive on clean, pure water with abundant supply of fish. Orca Network argues that staple food of the Salish Sea orcas, Chinook salmon has been declining in the region. Further, it emphasizes constant degradation in the natural habitat due to dumping of industrial poisons like PCBs, PBDEs and other harmful effects of human activities, which are taking their toll on the orcas. Antrim cites the story of rescue of J.J., the orphaned gray whale calf by SeaWorld, which was the largest whale first rescued, rehabilitated and returned to the wild by SeaWorld (230). The story shares the plight of a species that has survival issues on shore as left in dehydrated, gravely ill, injured malnourished and very old condition. If animals accustomed to living in captive environments where they are provided right amount of food, water quality, temperature, healthy and safe environments are put back into their natural surroundings, they might not be able to survive the variations due to changed temperature, food quality, exposure to germs and other unhygienic conditions. To assume that living in captivity is good for these animals is also not completely true. Brown and Norris cite several harms these mammals face in captive environments, including the wounds they get while capturing causing infections at later stage, problems relate to body heating when taken out of sea water, and distressed behavior among others (315-324). Further, they suggest that wild animals like Blackfish should not be allowed in captivity as it is against their natural requirements .The artificial environment cannot be a replacement for their own natural habitat in terms of the climate and the ecosystem. Most of these captivities are either located in urban areas or their vicinity. Captive environment infringes animal freedom to interact with their families. Bars and cages can be restrictive for their growth, movement and other physiological needs as the evolution of animals is adapted to live in certain types of natural environments. Many marine biologists and animal ethicists are against keeping orcas in captivity because they are designed to travel hundreds of miles each day, which is impossible in the artificial premises. Conclusion The arguments of various stakeholders create a picture that Blackfish is under threat as it needs natural hygienic environment for its growth and development. The degradation of the ecosystem has made the current environment unsuitable for its survival. At the same time, captive environments can never be an ideal solution or substitute for keeping these mammals or any other wild animals. The evidences portray organizations like SeaWorld as primarily working for profit that they derive by engaging animals in captive environments and tend to harm the creatures in the process. Overcoming these problems demands reflection, reconnection and swift response as better caretakers of our extended community by preserving the natural ecosystem and promoting a macro-level worldwide initiative to provide good, hygienic and healthy inhabiting conditions to wild animals. Works Cited Antrim, J. "Logistics of maintenance, rehabilitation, and return to the Pacific Ocean of a California gray whale calf." Aquatic Mammals 27.3 (2001): 228-230. Brown, David H., and Kenneth S. Norris. "Observations of captive and wild cetaceans." Journal of Mammalogy (1956): 311-326. Burford, Mahalia. Rebuttal: “A Stronger Case for SeaWorld.” Journal of Law and Public Policy, November 26, 2013. Accessed April 10, 2014 CNN. SeaWorld responds to questions about captive orcas, Blackfish film.CNN, October 28, 2013. Accessed April 10, 2014 CNN. Transcripts: CNN Films Presents: Blackfish. Accessed April 10, 2014 Dogwoof. Blackfish Trailer. Accessed April 10, 2014 Kittleson, Kyle. “SeaWorld Killer Whale Trainer Responds to "Blackfish."” YouTube. YouTube Jan 13, 2014. Web. 10 April 2014. Orca Network. Blackfish. Accessed April 10, 2014 PETAINDIA. Animals Used for Entertainment. Accessed April 10, 2014 PETA. Shocking Court Documents Expose SeaWorld’s Continued Cruelty. Accessed April 10, 2014 SeaWorld. Killer Whale Care. Accessed April 10, 2014 Read More