It is imperative to note that that the documentary titled “Blackfish” has drawn the attention of the public, and has facilitated many discussions. It is focused on an orca named Tilikum that is associated with three human deaths. The director focuses on the captivity of the animal and provides numerous pieces of evidence that suggest that it leads to many problems. The narrative is emotional, and such arguments should be analyzed because they are quite comprehensive.
It is quite obvious that the treatment that Tilikum had to deal with was unreasonable, and has led to numerous problems. The issue that should not be overlooked is that humans disregard mental capabilities of other creatures, and do not consider them to be intelligent. However, orcas are smart, and they are incredibly emotional. Moreover, it is suggested that he is so aggressive because he was harassed by other orcas. It is understandable that interactions are quite important, but employees should have taken appropriate measures to improve the experience of a captive whale.
Another aspect that should be highlighted is that people that defend the captivity make false claims very often to protect the image of the enterprises, and they are not based on any pieces of data. The argument that the lifespan of whales is not reduced in such environment is highly questionable because a psychological pressure is enormous, and it may be hard to handle for some. A possible objection that one may have is that they are quite dangerous and may harm humans.
However, such instances are not well-documented, and it is not possible to state that it is a truth as a whole based on available pieces of evidence. Therefore, the behavior shown by Tilikum could seem unreasonable because he was provided with all the necessary resources. Furthermore, it is evident that the animal has suffered and did not know how to express emotions. The killer whale was desperate, and this factor signifies that such treatment is not efficient.
Such tragedies could be prevented if necessary measures are taken. However, another option that is available is to let these creatures live comfortably in the wild. The most significant problem is that they have to deal with enormous stress because of separation from parents, and other activities. Leopold suggests that humans are not always aware of the consequences of their actions. Nature has its unique rules, and it is capable of keeping things balanced (Leopold par. 8).
However, it becomes quite problematic when people are involved because they do not take numerous external and internal factors into account. It can be seen from the history that implications of such actions may be severe. It is understandable that most may think that people are used to seeing killer whales in theme parks, and it leads to significant profits. However, it may be reasonable to review the stance on this subject matter.
In conclusion, it is possible to state that it is an outstanding documentary, and the devotion to the craft shown by the director also should be acknowledged. Overall, it is evident that this subject matter is quite problematic, and it indicates that the consequences of human actions can be severe. One may think that killer whales are not treated poorly, and they are protected from possible dangers, but other vital aspects are frequently overlooked.
Works Cited
Leopold, Aldo. Thinking Like a Mountain. n.d. Web.