SeaWorld Does Not Capture Killer Whales in the Wild

“Blackfish” claims that the death of Brancheau was not a coincidence and not from a singular event; but that you must go back many years to clearly understand the actions of not just Tilikum, but all killer whales in captivity. They begin by discussing an event that took place in Puget Sound, Washington thirty nine years ago. According to diver John Crowe: SeaWorld had aircrafts, spotters, speedboats and bombs to lure the whales into a cove so they could capture the calves. But because the orca’s had been captured before, they understood what was occurring and they concluded that their young would be taken from them. Orca researcher, Howard Garrett claims that the adults without young went east into a cul-de-sac and the whales with young went north desperately hoping to escape. But because aircrafts were involved in the hunt, the calves were spotted and captured, leaving behind three fully grown dead whales in the process. (Blackfish). This scene leaves viewers with false impressions that derail the once beloved theme park, SeaWorld. It makes one question SeaWorld’s ethics concerning their whales and it leaves an impact on viewers that SeaWorld captures killer whales in the wild in this abusive way currently; when in fact SeaWorld does not capture killer whales in the wild and they have not done so in over thirty five years. According to the Department of Biology at the University of Portland, SeaWorld practices a safe and effective process of reproducing killer whales in captivity. SeaWorld has maintained killer whales since 1965 and has been reproducing in captivity since 1993, no longer needing to capture killer whales in the wild. Also, the collection of the whales merely forty years ago was in compliance with federal law and was displayed falsely in the film.