Vivid and Stunning Photo Campaign Reveals the True Cost of Holding Orcas and Dolphins Captive

The media is a force to be reckoned with. Whether it is for good or evil, the media is particularly effective at using its power to shape the way we think and form opinions on particular topics. An advertisement for SeaWorld or any marine park, for example, can easily convince parents that a trip to see the whales and dolphins is a fun family activity. Without any prior knowledge of how harmful marine parks actually are to the animals held captive, why would they think otherwise? The captive dolphins and whales are all shown in happy and exciting situations. Trainers stand, making grandiose gestures in front of magnificent whales who are performing tricks, and photos show dolphins with their mouths open as if they’re grinning. Unfortunately, this “happy place” is little more than a fantasy sold by ad companies. A glorified fish tank is the last place that these creatures who travel hundreds of miles in the wild daily belong. Dolphins and whales are highly intelligent animals whose bonds with members of their pods aren’t so different from human families — in fact, they might be even stronger because orcas tend to stick with their pods for life.

So, what can we who oppose marine captivity do? We can expose the truth behind the myth that these animals thrive in captivity. Captive cetaceans have been shown to exhibit repetitive behaviors known as zoochosis, aggression towards their tank members, suicide attempts, and other self-destructive behaviors. Educating people about the reality of marine captivity is exactly what Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s new campaign aims to do.

Sea Shepherd’s new campaign highlights the unfortunate reality for captive cetaceans who are forced to perform in marine parks across the world. 

Each image in their new campaign features a photo of a captive cetacean with their name and how captivity propelled them towards an untimely and tragic death.

According to Nicolas Dumenil, the Paris-based art director who created the designs for Sea Shepherd, “going from a splash of water to a smash of glass was a simple but powerful way to illustrate the cruel reality of captivity. Marine parks work hard to hide what people should not see and work harder to engage in disinformation each time an animal dies in their parks.”

There are several ways that you can help put an end to marine captivity. The first is to pledge to never purchase a ticket to a marine park or any facility that forces marine animals to perform. The second is to share your knowledge with your friends and family in person or through social media. Share this article to help spread awareness about why these wonderful animals deserve to live free.

To learn more about Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, what they stand for, and what they do, visit their official website.

All image source: Sea Shepherd Conservation Society