Biological Diversity is used to classify a variety of organisms in the world. I am choosing to research further into the topic of killer whales, know now as Orcas, in captivity and how the unnecessary capture of these animals is harming to not only them, but to us as well. They are an absolutely amazing animal but keeping them in captivity is dangerous. They are social animals that deserve to be around others like them. The captivity is hindering their livelihood and allowing for their spirits to be shattered. Orcas are the largest species in the dolphin family. They are a very close knit organization that travel in pods. These pods are their family and they never stray from one another. From birth until death they are united. These overgrown dolphins are anywhere from 16-22 feet long and can top the scale at over 8,000 pounds. The average life span of an animal this large in the wild is anywhere from 50 – 100 years compared to only about 20 years in captivity. Initially the capturing of these animals started as a way for people to show these enormous wonders off to people who wanted to see them up close. During the 1960’s and early 1970’s hundreds of whales were separated from their families. This uprooting from their environment not only impacts them but their loved ones as well. They are an intelligent group of mammals that deserve to be with their families instead of put in a giant fish bowl on display.

Work Cited

Johnson, A. (2012, 22). Youtube.com. The Truth about Captive Orcas and Dolphins. Retrieved November 21, 2013, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRgpFJA87yA

~NS