Orcas have been in difficult circumstances since the first orca was captured in 1961. The first captured orca lived for two days in captivity, then died, with the reported cause of death being pneumonia . Many things come to mind when people think of an orca being in captivity. Many people tend to believe that they are being treated, that they will enjoy life more and live longer because they are receiving food and care. These statements are told to spectators at SeaWorld, Marineland and many other water parks around the world. The facts do not agree with these statements. Orcas are very friendly animals, there have been no recorded orca attacks harming any humans in the wild. Most of them will approach the fishing boats and be petted and fed. Although in captivity numerous orcas have attacked humans. The average lifespan of an orca in captivity is between twenty and thirty years in the wild, their lifespan is three times as long at fifty to eighty years. Although during the shows the orca spectators swim in huge pools of water most of the time they are at the back of the arena in small confined spaces, which is unacceptable because in the wild orcas swim sixty to one hundred miles per day, foraging for food and exercising daily. Whales should be free from captivity because they are more aggressive in captivity, live less in captivity and do not have great living conditions and are farmed for profit. Orcas in captivity have shown more aggression than they ever have in the wild. In fact, “No orca attacks have been recorded in the wild, but many in captivity” (p.1). Over one hundred and fifteen cases of orcas attacking trainers in captivity have been reported. No matter the experience of the trainer or the connection... middle of paper... this still happens because it's what the audience wants to see and pay for. Keeping whales in captivity does not bring them any benefit, it has proven many things, such as that whales are aggressive towards the trainer, although in the wild they have not intentionally hurt a single person. They have also been shown to live shorter lives. Not just shorter lives, but shorter life expectancies of thirty or forty years in captivity. Their living condition is small, not large enough to allow them to exercise and hunt for food as they would in the wild. These are just a few of the many ways whales are mistreated and they don't deserve any of it. The way to stop it is simple. Don't visit theme parks where orcas are forced to do tricks they don't want to do. Support organizations that are there to actually care for and release whales, not to hold them and profit from them.