The ISSUE
KEY STATISTICS
At least 166 orcas have been taken from the wild since 1961. 133 of these are dead.
Since SeaWorld launched a booming global business in the capture and transport of orca whales, at least 166 have been removed from the wild. Many have died during capture, transport, and in captivity.
SeaWorld in the United States still holds more orcas captive than anywhere else.
Despite the public outcry that followed the documentary film Blackfish, SeaWorld in the United States still holds 18 orcas in captivity. At least 44 orcas have died at SeaWorld parks since the 1960’s.
As of March 2024, 55 orca whales still live in captivity around the world.
Of those whales, 22 were removed from while populations. 33 were born in captivity and have never experienced their natural habitat in the ocean with other orcas.
Orcas, like all cetaceans, are highly intelligent, emotional beings with close family ties.
Cetaceans (whales and dolphins) are highly intelligent, complex beings. Science has come to recognize that they have language, culture, and deep social connections that span generations.
Orcas are one of nature’s most profound examples of “animal anthropology.” Their unique regional dialects, highly adapted hunting behaviour, and their complex emotions all speak to intelligence not suited to a life in captivity, forced to perform for entertainment and profit, separated from their family groups.
Like us, orcas experience anger - like Tilikum, the captive SeaWorld orca who repeatedly expressed frustration before causing the death of his trainer. And like us, they experience profound grief - such as Tahlequah, the Southern Resident orca who carried her dead calf for 17 days across 1,000 miles in the hope it would revive.
Orcas are making a splash at this year’s exclusive Cannes Festival.
As the future of two captive orcas in France is fiercely defended by animal rights groups, the world-renowned Cannes film festival brings ORCA - BLACK & WHITE GOLD to their line up of films.
LATEST NEWS
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Public Display Ban
The Russian Duma passed a law in 2023 banning the capture orcas for the purpose of public display. (Capture permits can still be given for “education” and “research,” but it’s a step in the right direction.)
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No New Orcas in the Moskvarium
Last year, at the Russian Moskvarium, two orcas died while a mother orca gave birth to a calf. The Moskvarium announced it will not take any new orcas into captivity because they are too difficult to alive.
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China Decreasing Orca Imports
China is currently a rapidly expanding market for orcas in captivity for entertainment. But they are weaning themselves off importing wild-caught orcas from Russia. This is good news for wild orcas! (However, China is increasing its efforts to breed orcas in captivity, which NGOs are monitoring.)
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Cetacean Education Continues in Russia
The Russian ecological groups Ocean Friends and Boomerang Club featured in the film helped rally the public and pressure the Russian government to close the “whale jail.” The groups had to be disbanded due to concerns about being labeled foreign agents, but they continue to provide youth education about ocean health and wildlife.
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One Voice France Fights For Sanctuary
In France, animal activists continue to rally to push the French government to send mother and son orcas Wikie and Keijo to a seaside sanctuary instead of a life-sentence in captivity. You can learn more about the fight to free them, and how you can help, HERE.