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Leticia Cruz
Dr. Lynda Haas
Writing 37
22 February 2015
Orcas Do Not Belong in Captivity
SeaWorld has over 70 recorded reports of killer whale trainer accidents, which they hide
from incoming SeaWorld trainers (Incidents between Humans and Killer Whales in Captivity).
Even with this high number of incidents, SeaWorld and other marine parks refuse to release their
orcas into the wild. Some of these accidents have happened during shows, and audience
members are emotionally scarred by the physical violence these animals can inflict. Gabriela
Cowperthwaite, a writer-director of documentary films, has taken her daughters to SeaWorld and
remembers an incident where trainer Dawn Brancheau was killed by Tilikum, an orca owned by
SeaWorld Park Cowperthwaite could not understand why a reported intelligent whale would
attack kill the trainer that takes care of him (Cowperthwaite, Blackfish Official). For this reason
Cowperthwaite used her filmmaker background to direct her controversial documentary,
Blackfish; it is centered on Tilikum, how his training and captivity has led to deaths and incidents
of trainers. Blackfish uses the appeal to ethos in both positive and negative forms in order to
make its argument that humans do not have the right to capture whales and keep them
imprisoned for entertainment purposes. Ethos is established from the trainers, researchers, and
the lack of participation from SeaWorld management within the film.
The documentary uses the rhetorical appeal of ethos through the use of the former
SeaWorld trainers, evoking a positive attitude about them in viewers. The film showcases the

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trainers as being nave over the amount of incidents killer whales have had with trainers and their
suspicions with management. In the beginning of the film the viewers are introduced to the
former trainers of SeaWorld, they share their story that inspired them to work at SeaWorld.
Former trainer Bridgett Pirtle share the emotional attachment trainers have with the whales, I
loved figuring out how to communicate with the animals, and I loved what they gave back to
me. The audience members are taken back to their childhood and remember the attraction of
SeaWorld and the entertainment of the animals. The film shows old videos of the trainers training
the orcas and footage of live shows.Viewers understand the pull of SeaWorld, the trainers
continue with how they applied to SeaWorld. The audience would assume that it takes a
Masters Degree in Marine Biology to be a trainer thats what former trainer Kim Ashdown
thought but was surprised when in actuality it really is more about personality and how god you
can swim (Blackfish). The film establishes credibility for the trainers because they were former
trainers sharing their perspective, but it also shows how even the trainers had little knowledge
over the animals they would be training, whales. Former trainer Jeffrey Ventre left SeaWorld
after eight years and pursued his Ph.D. in natural resource management; he informed himself
over the various myths of whales. The majority of trainers in the film left SeaWorld to purse
higher education and are now activists for the Orca Project, raising awareness of the treatment
of orcas in SeaWorld and water parks. (Zimmermann, The Killer) The film may have shown
these post-educated trainers to build credibility and to convince the audience that they are now
fully educated in the biological and behavioral characteristics of orcas. The documentary also
uses credible researchers to support their claim that orcas do not belong in captivity for
entertainment purposes.

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The film uses credible researchers to convince viewers that the captivity of whales for our
pleasure is immoral. The documentary introduces Dr. Lori Marino, a neuroscientist, whose
research focuses on cetacean and primate intelligence (Morell, Lori Marino: Leader). She argues
that All whales in captivity are psychologically traumatized (Blackfish). She is a credible
source that builds positive ethos within the film. Marino agrees with the trainers and researcher
Howard Garrett, a former researcher in the Center for Whale Research and co-founder of Orca
Network, who states that orcas do not act aggressively with each other in the wild (Orca Network
Contact). The film uses both researchers to argue the point that whales do not belong in captivity.
They also correct misconceptions of whales, later explained. Whales are one of the most
intelligent animals in the wild, and they are very social animals. This is one of the reasons why
they are taken from the wild; because they are interactive with humans, they are perfect for
entertainment purposes. But by capturing whales and training them for shows, SeaWorld and
other waterparks are mistreating them. The film showcases this by providing evidence for
managements lies. Credible evidence from the researchers provides strengthens the appeal of
ethos and logos in the film.
Blackfish also uses the appeal to ethos in a negative form by discrediting the motives and
morals of the owners of SeaWorld and other marine parks. Throughout the film, the expertise
that trainers have over whales is challenged by researchers, specifically trainers knowledge over
a whales life span and health. But its not the trainers who are misinformed, its management that
does not inform the trainers. The former trainers were brainwashed to state false facts to the
audience at SeaWorld. Midway through the film viewers listen to the amount of testimony
trainers give, affirming that the whales live 25-30 years in captivity and in the wild; not only that,
but they state that whales actually live longer in captivity because of veterinary care. This is a lie,

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the film discredits SeaWorld by having Howard Garret an orca researcher say that whales
actually live up to a 100 years in the wild. SeaWorlds management as well claimed that the
whales are one happy family, when in reality they are not. Garret is seen again correcting this
misconception and tells the viewer that the whales act micro-aggressive because they are from
different cultures. John Hardgrove, a formal trainer states that these animals have different
genes, and different languages. The film build credibility by discrediting SeaWorld. Its effective
because the audience sees countless videos of SeaWorld staff and trainers give false information
to their guests. Right after these segments, Cowperthwaite adds Howard a credible researcher
over orcas. The film also tells the viewers that they have tried on several occasions to have
SeaWorld defend themselves or give a testimony on these claims, but they decline to do so
(Catsoulis, Do Six-Ton Captives Dream of Freedom?). SeaWorld management is digging a
deeper hole in their credibility and the audience is being successfully persuaded to agree with the
films argument, the whales do not belong in captivity.
Upon further analysis of SeaWorld management, former trainers have tried to voice their
opinion regarding managements decision but would be rebuked. They would be punished by
being scolded in front of other trainers and do arbitrary tasks such as night watch, or not being
able to have any interaction with the animals (Roberts Samantha Berg and Carol Ray Talk
Blackfish). Trainers would go to management to report issues concerning abnormal behavior
with animals. Management wouldnt do anything about it and would tell the trainers that it was
not their job to correct them or suggest opinions over the matter. SeaWorld management makes it
their mission to give as little information they can to the trainers so they wont tarnish their
reputation or the danger that captive whales have on people. The films shows four deaths of
trainers, the former trainers recall that they had little knowledge or no knowledge. If news would

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reach them about a trainers death then management would tell them and the public that it was a
trainers error (Boniface, SeaWorld Terror). In other words, it was the trainers fault that the
orca grabbed him/her and flung them around until they died. SeaWorld management did not want
to inform the trainers or the public of these deaths or accidents because it would indicate that
these whales are dangerous. Not only that but these incidents could lead an investigation of
SeaWorlds treatment of the animals and could possibly end the captivation of the whales.
Viewers are being convinced that the whales do not belong in captivity because the whales have
health problems in captivity and act aggressive towards humans to the point of death. The New
York Times reports Dr. Christopher Dold, SeaWorlds vice president of veterinary services
point out that only one trainer had died in a whale encounter at SeaWorld parks (Cieply). This
excerpt was taken after the release of Blackfish, management continues to deny that Tilikum had
killed three people, trainers and a bystander.
SeaWorld management could replace Tilikum or even release him into the wild because
of the number of deaths he has caused and his aggressive behavior. But, this wont happen
because management wants Tilikum for breeding purposes. His aggressive behavior is passed
down to his offspring and in the future they may be the ones lashing out on trainers and even
killing them.
The documentary, Blackfish persuades the viewers to realize that humans do not have a
right to capture animals for entertainment purposes. The film establishes their argument by using
positive and negative ethos by having former trainers of SeaWorld, researchers, and the silence
of SeaWorld management when producing the documentary. The further practice of captivity for
animals at SeaWorld will result in more incidents with trainers and the amount of death rate will
rise.

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Works Cited
Blackfish. Dir. Gabriela Cowperthwaite. Prod. Manny Oteyza. Magnolia Pictures, 2013. Film.
Boniface, Susie. "SeaWorld Terror - Film Exposes Dark Side of Killer Whales Involved in "70 Human
Injuries"" Mirror. N.p., 18 Nov. 2013. Web. 23 Feb. 2015.
Catsoulis, Jeannette. "Do Six-Ton Captives Dream of Freedom?" The New York Times. The New York
Times, 18 July 2013. Web. 22 Feb. 2015.
Cieply, Michael. "SeaWorlds Unusual Retort to a Critical Documentary." The New York Times. The
New York Times, 18 July 2013. Web. 06 Mar. 2015.
Cowperthwaite, Gabriela. "Blackfish Official Film Site." Blackfish Official Film Site. N.p., 2013. Web.
22 Feb. 2015.
"Incidents between Humans and Killer Whales in Captivity -a Longer List than the Parks Would like to
Tell You!" Incidents between Humans and Killer Whales in Captivity. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Feb.
2015.
Lee, Jane J. "Former SeaWorld Trainer: Stop Using Killer Whales for Entertainment." National
Geographic. National Geographic Society, 16 Jan. 2014. Web. 18 Feb. 2015.
Morell, Virginia. "Lori Marino: Leader of a Revolution in How We Perceive Animals | Innovators."
National Geographic. National Geographic Society, n.d. Web. 06 Mar. 2015.
"Orca Network Contact Information." Orca Network Contact Information. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Mar.
2015.
Roberts, Sheila. "Samantha Berg and Carol Ray Talk BLACKFISH, Working at SeaWorld, and
More."Collider. Complex Media Inc., 17 July 2013. Web. 23 Feb. 2015.
Zimmermann, Tim. "The Killer in the Pool." Outside Online. N.p., 30 July 2010. Web. 06 Mar. 2015.