Killer whales are highly social; some populations are composed of matrilineal family groups which are the most stable of any animal species. Their sophisticated hunting techniques and vocal behaviors, which are often specific to a particular group and passed across generations, have been described as manifestations of culture.



In 1983, at two years old, Tilikum, was chased by boatmen (hired by Seaworld) near Iceland where he was kept in a cement holding tank for close to a year at Hafnarfjörður Marine Zoo, near Reykjavík, Iceland, as he awaited transfer to a marine park. Held captive against his will, all he could do was swim in small circles and float aimlessly at the surface of the water, seperated from his mother. Eventually, Tilly was transferred to the rundown Sealand of the Pacific in British Columbia, Canada, and forced to call his barren 100-foot-by-50-foot pool—just 35 feet deep—his sad new "home."

Food was withheld from him as a training technique, and he regularly endured painful attacks by two dominant female orcas, Haida and Nootka. He was forced to perform every hour on the hour, eight times a day, seven days a week. The constant stress and exhaustion gave him stomach ulcers.

When the park closed its doors at the end of each day, the three incompatible orcas were crammed into a tiny round metal-sided module for more than 14 hours until the park reopened the next morning.

Finally, Tilikum was brought to Sea World in Orlando, FL. Since his time in captivity, he has been involved in the deaths of three trainers. As a result, he is only brought out of his [prison of an enclosure] pen for the finale of the Sea World Show, to present the "Bow" to the audience.

Sea World keeps Tilikum in complete seclusion for pretty much two thirds of his life with virtually no stimulation. The one and only reason they will not release him back into the wild where he belongs, is money. They use his sperm to impregnate other female Orcas. He has sired 21 calves, with 11 still alive.

These amazing mammals are more intelligent than we humans can/ or will possibly be able to understand. Yet, we are forcing them to live out their [drastically shortend lifespan] in captivity for the purposes of 'entertainment'. That would be like somebody forcing me to spend my life in a small pool. In that respect, YES, I would get extremely frustrated and eventually go insane. The outcome is the same for these beautiful mammals like Tilikum.

Unfortunatly for Tilikum (thanks to Sea World's captivity for so many years) he doesn't have his front and side teeth left. One of the (things you do when) putting orcas in a facility is that you have to separate them with gates, and what they tend to do is threat-displays at each other to establish dominance. It's a matriarchal society. Tilikum (a male) is a sub-dominant animal in that society. He has a little bit less room to maneuver because of his massive size. He might be the largest animal in captivity. ... So, consequently, his teeth have broken off. And that's why you'll see the trainers every morning and evening using a water pick to flush out the impacted fish that gathers in the remnants of the teeth ... so it doesn't lead to something like an infection." (*2 quote from Jeffrey Ventre)

SeaWorld is said to have Tilikum insured for as much as $5 million, and Ventre said, "He's worth millions, and he represents the future of the breeding program for SeaWorld. He has impregnated - he's produced 13 calves, I believe. I think ten are still alive. I haven't been in the game for a long time. That's a guess, but those are the numbers that I think are accurate." (*3 quote from Ventre for CBS in 2010)

I urge you to please sign this petition and reshare it with your social outlets via Face Book, Twitter, Google+, etc. We need to raise public awareness that these Orcas should not be exploited for entertainment and profit, but instead should be released back into the wild (i.e. a sea pen for rehabilitation)- WHERE THEY BELONG.

Sincerely,

Joanna Lynn Rogers

Links and References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilikum_(orca)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackfish

http://www.seaworldofhurt.com/tilikum-captivity.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackstone_Group

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killer_whale