For the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, two Orca whales have been captured from northern Japan to be put on display. According to the Vancouversun the whales will not participate in the games, but be a display for the audience. According to CBC seven whales were captures in northern Japan, but only two will be sent to the Olympics. This event has caused an outrage with animals rights and environmental activists.
Paul Spong, a whale researcher states the danger for the Orcas in captivity:
“When they're captured, their families are just ripped apart,” says Spong. “And when they're put into captivity, they're really subject to sensory deprivation for years and years and years — it's hugely damaging to them." (CBC)
There has been an online petition that began in order to release the whales back into the wild.
Captivity dramatically shortens an Orcas life because they are often diagnosed with depression and anxiety. The capture of the two whales have also brought attention to the documentary called BlackFish. The documentary depicts the horror of catching Orca whales and imprisoning them to perform at shows (such as SeaWorld). The film has many graphic scenes of violently taking the whales from their families in the open ocean, then being put into small tanks at water parks.
As the film goes on it explains the danger that has come from training these large wild animals. After a trainer at Sea World was killed by an Orca, national interest enhanced about the captivity of Orcas.
The film has an erie beginning while highlighting the death of a senior trainer at Sea World by the Orca named Tilikum.
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