Magazine, website & books written by teens since 1989  Captive
Killer Whales This work has been published in the Teen Ink
monthly print magazine.  More by this author Killer whales, also
known as orcas, are the largest members of the dolphin family
and the top predator in their ecosystem. They are one of the
most intelligent marine creatures, especially due to their acute
senses of sight and hearing. Their beauty has astounded humans
for generations, but for many orcas captivity limits their
freedom and enjoyment of life. It not only damages the physical
and mental health of these animals, but also poses a danger to
trainers, yet people continue to profit from killer whales.  In
captivity, many orcas suffer from poor physical and mental
health. In the wild, they can easily travel 50 to 100 miles a
day. However, in captivity, a typical tank is only twice their
size, forcing the animals to swim in small circles or float
aimlessly.  “The stress of captivity can drive orcas and other
marine mammals to display neu