Captive Orca Is Absolutely Fascinated by Newborn Baby
Orcas are considered to be one of the most intelligent creatures on our planet. These massive mammals live in tight-knit social groups called pods, use a range of vocalizations to communicate with one another, and are capable of problem solving and emotional intelligence.
A viral video that shows a captive orca that's absolutely fascinated by a couple's newborn baby is simply amazing to watch, but it's also an important reminder of why these incredible animals shouldn't be kept in aquariums. Just take a look.
In the video uploaded to TikTok, the newborn baby girl’s mom can be heard saying “Oh my gosh, that is the coolest thing ever!” while the newborn's dad holds her up to the aquarium at the unnamed orca exhibit. The killer whale appears to be studying the baby before he goes up to the top of his enclosure to get air and returns down again to take another look.
Related: Beloved Orca Whale's Death at Miami Seaquarium Sparks Outrage and Protest
It's an incredible video, and something these parents will never forget, but hopefully it will be one of the last times that people can see these animals behind glass.
Why Orcas Don't Belong In Captivity
In 2013, the documentary film Blackfish showed the psychological toll of what killer whales go through when they live in captivity, through the story of a wild-caught orca named Tilikum who had killed two trainers at SeaWorld Orlando.
Whether they're born in the wild or in captivity, all orcas born have the same innate drive to swim far and dive deep. This is what they do. They can't do this when they are kept in a tank, no matter how large the tank is, because orcas dive 100 to 500 feet, several times a day, every day, and they swim up to forty miles a day.
National Geographic reports, "Artificial enclosures in captivity cannot offer that kind of range to orcas, contributing to boredom and stress. Orcas have been seen to develop stereotypies, also known as zoochosis—repetitive patterns of activity that have no obvious function, which range from self-mutilation to rocking and swaying. Usually related to stress and inappropriate habitats, stereotypic behavior has been documented in orcas in scientific research since the late 1980s."
The Dolphin Project explains that captive orcas also display aggression towards each other, as well as self-destructive behavior. Rake marks and injuries inflicted are often observed on captive orcas, while it is also well-documented that captive marine mammals engage in harmful stereotypic behaviors such as gnawing on tank walls or gates.
At least 160 orcas have died in captivity, even more if stillbirths are counted.
In 2016, Orlando park SeaWorld announced that it would be ending its orca breeding program and that the current group of killer whales would be the last in their pools. In 2019, Canada outright banned the practice of keeping both whales and dolphins in captivity.
If you would like to find out how you can help end the inhumane practice of these amazing creatures being held in captivity, you can learn more here.
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