The Premise
“Blackfish” is an American documentary film about Tilikum, an orca in captivity at SeaWorld. The film, directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, explores Tilikum’s life from his capture in Iceland to his death in 2017 and how he caused the deaths of three people during his lifetime. The documentary follows the lives of orcas in captivity and compares them to how they live in the wild (Cowperthwaite). Using interviews with former SeaWorld trainers and experts in the field, the film examines the devastating physical and psychological effects of captivity on emotional and intelligent creatures such as orcas. “Blackfish” is a thought-provoking documentary highlighting the treatment of captured animals and the danger this poses.
Incidents at SeaWorld and the Case of Tilikum
The film documents events occurring at SeaWorld, where there was perceived mistreatment of the orcas kept in captivity. SeaWorld was in the limelight following the death of two people at the facility. The killer whale Tilikum reportedly attacked two people, Daniel Dukes and Dawn Brancheau. These incidents followed a previous case where the orca attacked another championship swimmer and trainer, Keltie Bryne, at Sealand of the Pacific (Cowperthwaite).
The film features interviews with trainers, marine biologists, and animal experts, which shed light on the plight of Tilikum and other orcas in captivity. One of the trainers recounts some harsh training techniques used on the orcas, which may have caused physical and psychological trauma and stress on the killer whales. The trauma from their training, coupled with living in captivity, is believed to have been the cause of the psychosis experienced by Tilikum, leading to the attack on people.
Impact of Captivity on Orca Behavior
The “Blackfish” documentary also describes the living conditions that may have resulted in the behavior change of a whale species that is ordinarily friendly in its natural habitat. After separating from their families in the wild, these highly social and emotional creatures were locked up in small tanks that were inappropriate for their size and social needs. The documentary shows scars of aggression attacks on Tilikum from confrontations in the confined enclosures (Cowperthwaite). This was uncommon in the wild since the animals lived in expansive spaces where they moved freely.
The tanks that replaced the oceans lacked natural stimuli, denying the orcas the ability to carry out their normal behaviors, such as socializing, foraging, and hunting. They were also frequently exposed to crowds, loud noises, and bright lights, which probably resulted in stress and anxiety. These inhumane living conditions at SeaWorld could have likely caused psychosis in these orcas.
Ethical Concerns and Animal Rights Violations
The conditions that Tilikum and the other orcas lived in at the SeaWorld facilities may be considered a violation of animal rights. Animal rights are moral standards based on the idea that animals should live the way they want, free from human desires. The living conditions at SeaWorld violated animal rights by denying the animals the freedom to move about (Cowperthwaite). The documentary also narrates how some animals were physically deprived of food and punished to control their behavior. These treatments that were meant to influence the behavior of the orcas resulted in confrontations between Tilikum and another killer whale who was paired with him for training.
The film also highlighted the case of Kalina, who was separated from her mother, Katina, after four years. Katina is shown to be grieving over the loss of Kalina, and she is seen trying to communicate with her over long distances (Cowperthwaite). Separation can lead to bodily and emotional harm to the creatures, as being in the family setting is critical, as it provides protection, safety, and shelter. This was the case for Tilikum when he was brought to SeaWorld. Additionally, when separated from their families, the orcas are denied the opportunity to explore their natural surroundings and establish relationships with other animals.
Expert Insight
Dr. Temple Grandin is a renowned animal scientist and a leading advocate for animal rights. Dr. Grandin is recognized for her contribution to designing humane livestock handling facilities and research on animal behavior and ways of improving their welfare (Tikkanen). Grandin believed we should treat animals with respect, dignity, and compassion. According to her, it was humans’ responsibility to ensure that animals were treated correctly and that care was provided to them. She also believes that animals should be given a chance to express natural behaviors and that we should work to reduce animal suffering wherever possible.
Animals should be accorded some degree of rights and protection, which can vary based on the animal and the context in which it is being kept or used. These rights should be put in place to protect them from extreme suffering, abuse, and neglect. Animals are sentient beings capable of experiencing and responding to pain, pleasure, fear, and joy. According to Stilt, animals are part of the natural environment; therefore, their rights should reflect that they are essential to the ecosystem. Laws should be in place to protect animals from cruel treatment, such as in factory farming, animal testing, captivity, and other forms of animal exploitation.
Conclusion
“Blackfish” is a thought-provoking documentary that highlights the suffering of orcas in captivity. The film depicts wild animals’ mistreatment in facilities such as zoos for human entertainment. It also reveals how the management of facilities such as SeaWorld and zoos construes facts to make the public believe the captured animals live in better conditions than in the wild. “Blackfish” is an eye-opening film that creates awareness of the plight of captured animals and has sparked a debate about the need for better animal rights.
Works Cited
Cowperthwaite, Gabriela. “BlackFish 2013 Full Movie.” Www.youtube.com, 2013, Web.
Stilt, Kristen. “Rights of Nature, Rights of Animals.” Harvardlawreview.org, 2021, Web.
Tikkanen, Amy. “Temple Grandin | American Scientist and Industrial Designer.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 2019, Web.