Today's blog will be solely about raising awareness. You've probably seen animals displayed in circuses, aquariums, and zoos. Today, I will critically address the problems marine animals face in these confined environments.

ORCAS

Orcas are marine creatures with highly complex social bonds in the wild, roaming vast areas and passing on their own cultures from generation to generation. Despite this, the filing or drilling of teeth in captive orcas is one of the most striking indicators of the physical and psychological stress these animals endure. Orcas displayed for human entertainment often exhibit a biting behavior on hard surfaces, leading to tooth breakage and infections. Therefore, this situation reveals just how "inappropriate" captivity is for the animal.

The image you see on the side shows an orca (killer whale!) that has filed down its teeth due to stress from being kept in a confined space.

Even more striking is the dramatic difference in the relationship between orcas and humans. In the wild, there are no documented fatal orca attacks. In contrast, at least four humans have lost their lives in incidents involving orcas held in captivity. This doesn't refute the claim that orcas are "inherently dangerous," but rather highlights how captivity distorts their behavior. The fact that a species that does not harm humans in its natural habitat becomes deadly under confined, artificial conditions proves that the problem lies not with the animal, but with its environment.

DORSAL FIN COLLAPSE

In the wild, orcas’ dorsal fins almost always stand upright and firm; this is a natural result of healthy muscle structure and constant swimming motion. However, the “collapsed dorsal fin” condition, frequently seen in captive orcas, is associated with factors such as confined space, insufficient physical activity, warmer water, and prolonged immobility at the surface. This condition is not only a physical deformation but also a visual indicator of how captivity strains the orca’s biology. Rare and age-related in the wild, this problem has become almost the norm in aquariums, and this is due to the conditions in which they are kept. Below you can see an orca with dorsal fin collapse:

This debate isn’t limited to orcas. Institutions like Sea Life London also keep Gentoo penguins in completely artificial conditions, far from their natural habitat. These animals, which live in thousands of kilometers of open spaces near Antarctica, are displayed in a limited area in central London “for educational purposes.” While it’s claimed that visitors are being instilled with a love for penguins, the question of whether the penguins themselves consent to this experience is often ignored:)

The account that posted the video you can watch via this link has a petition in its bio that you can sign to protect these penguins and have 15 of them released into a sanctuary. I kindly request that everyone who reads this and feels compassionate sign it: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS5GpmdR6/

I’m also including here the informative TikTok videos my friend, who suggested I write this article, sent me. Those who want to watch them can just click the links: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS5Gpmtoj/ https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS5GpkEnj/ videos about orcas: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS5Gg9hfm/ https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS5GgycDj/ (Even watching these videos makes me feel overwhelmed.)

EVERYWHERE

This problem isn’t limited to whales and penguins. Around the world, many different animal species, especially dolphins, are being removed from their natural habitats and put into cages. For instance, in my country, the situation is no different at the Emaar Aquarium in the largest shopping mall in Istanbul. The animals are struggling to survive in awful conditions, and many are sick. Here’s a link to a video I found about this: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS5Gpm764/

We are the reason we see a penguin behind a glass window or an orca spinning in a tank. Therefore, it is our responsibility to avoid places where animals are exploited and mistreated. How coherent is it to teach children about animal protection and instill love for animals by depriving them of their freedom and torturing them? They have just as much right to live freely as we do, and we cannot ignore that right.