...Killer whales – a deadly entertainment Killer whales, also called orcas, are one of the world’s most powerful predators. They’re highly intelligent whales with a very acute sense of sight and hearing. Killer whales can weigh up to 6 tons and 32 feet, which makes them the largest member of the dolphin family. The beautiful animal has been admired by humans for many years; over last 5 decades killer whales have been kept in captivity and trained by humans to become stars in various aqua shows around the world. In the wild, killer whales can travel more than 70 miles a day. I find it horrible to think about the orcas that are kept in tanks, some only twice their own size, where all they do is swim around in little circles. This is damaging to...
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...There are many opinions on Sea Worlds killer whales. Many people believe Seaworld should not capture wild whales or even allowed to house these wild mammals, they believe all the whales should be set free. Whale on the other hand, many people believe sea world is a fun learning experience with many activity’s and an ounce and a lifetime opportunity, so they believe the whales should stay. Personally I think, Yes I believe these animals should be released from sea world and put in a pool in the ocean to live out the rest of their lives. These orcas are further south than a lot of others, they are more accessible to where people are. They're the one population that really is in an area that is developed. They were the ones that were targeted for live capture for the Sea Worlds. And so their population was decimated in the 1960s and 1970s with the live capture. About a third of the population was captured (Earthjustice.org) what I can see is a rapid decrease in numbers in 2012 they were put in the endangered species list....
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...November 2013 Is Killer Really the Right Word? “1961 first orca is captured and taken to the Marineland of the Pacific Park in Los Angeles. She dies a day later after repeatedly swimming around her pool at high speed and ramming into the sides” (Smith). Killer whales are a very large and powerful animal like any other wild animal, they can be unpredictable. Killer whales are beautiful creatures. The experience of seeing a killer whale for the first time is breath taking. My grandparents took me to SeaWorld in Orlando was I was 8, and after seeing a killer whale I was hooked. After going back many times it influenced me to want to become a whale trainer. As years have gone on I have learned killer whales in SeaWorld means they are in captivity. Why are these amazing animals spending their whole lives in a small swimming pool? Killer whales have been taken out of their habitats and put into captivity for research to be done on these amazing animals. An associate director of the Environmental Group Earth Island Institute Mark Berman says trying to incarcerate an animal as large as a killer whale or an animal with a large brain it’s proven it does not work (Pete). These killer whales need the freedom to travel wherever they’d like, not to have a routine day after day for the whole lives. The killer whales swimming in pools of aquariums builds frustration and aggression. Lori Marino is a neuroscientists says when whales in captivity are thrown with other whales that are no in their...
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...“SeaWorld’s Weird Science” stated, SeaWorld has been going through some difficult times since 2013. The reason why they have been under the microscope is because of what a movie by the name of “Blackfish” said about them. It stated that they have been keeping killer whales caged. The video specifically mentioned a killer whale named Tilikum that is kept for his sperm. Tilikum is approximately 33 years old and has fathered around 31 babies. His sperm is used to generate the majority of SeaWorld’s killer whale population. Also, it was referenced that SeaWorld responded to the film by using science as their primary reasoning for keeping an estimated 50 orcas in captivity. They stated that their purpose for having these mammals living in captivity...
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...In light of Blackfish’s release, many have pushed for SeaWorld do something about its orcas. They can no longer remain at SeaWorld, performing, they say, when such abuse takes place. The problem is, what is to be done with a six ton killer whale unable to survive on its own? The orcas should remain at SeaWorld until their deaths because they cannot survive in the wild after years of captivity, and they should be kept from reproducing whether they perform or not. Do we need to do anything though? They are intelligent and amazing, but are not they just animals? Some have given too much credit to orcas’ intelligence, such as one of the scientists, Marino. In Blackfish, she states, “The orca brain screams out intelligence awareness. We took this tremendous brain and put it in a magnetic resonance scanner. What we found is just astounding.” They found enlarged areas in the brain that are associated with high emotional capacity. SeaWorld, however, reports differently: “This is misleading. The most recent scientific research demonstrates that cetacean behaviors used to argue that high levels of intelligence are found commonly across mammals and vertebrates, and that cetacean intelligence is qualitatively no different than other vertebrates” (“Truth About Blackfish”...
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...Captain Ahab who is determined to kill the whale or die trying. Now this is a work of fiction but people have been hunting whales for tens of thousands of years. It only took America about ten years to kill 50 – 60 million buffalo; it makes it hard to believe there are many whales left after thousands of years hunting them. This paper is about the Whaling Debate on whether countries should be allowed to continue to hunt whales or should we leave them protected and my beliefs on the subject. This debate has also focused on issues of sustainability and conservation as well as ownership and national sovereignty. Some of the issues included in these debates is the question of cetacean intelligence this refers to the Cetacea order of mammals, which includes whales, porpoises, and dolphins; and the level of suffering which the animals undergo when caught and killed (The Whale Debate: Whale Wars, 2014). Another hot topic in the debate right now is the right to kill a certain amount of whales for scientific research, Japan kills 1000 minke whales a year and about 100 endangered fin and humpback whales. Whales are mammals the same as we are and they are intelligent and have feelings such as pain and a sense of loss. Before I get into my opinion I will list the pros and cons of this particular activity. There are a few of each so I will start with the reasons for whaling, many indigenous people, such as the Inuit’s of Alaska, rely on whales for food and other materials to survive...
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...Plankton Depletion and Environmental Effects Plankton is a term generally used for microorganisms or “floaters” that simply drift along wherever water currents take them. This includes zooplankton, algae, phytoplankton, and bacteria (G. Karleskint Jr. et al, 2010, p.464). But while it is common to see them as food for fish, they have other roles in nature what make them essential organisms in the delicate balance of our ecosystem. This paper will highlight the critical role of plankton as the organisms that make life on earth possible by describing the foundational role it plays in the food chain and in significant bio-chemical processes and discussing the negative effects it will give to the environment. I. Main Functions of Plankton in the Environment There are two main roles played by plankton in the environment. The first important role of plankton is in the food chain. Because of their microscopic size, they serve as food for other microorganisms, fishes and seal animals, which make-up 30% percent of the world’s entire intake of animal protein (J.H. Steele et al, 2009, p.8). Thus, we find plankton at the bottom of the food chain: zooplanktons eat other planktons for food, which in turn, along with phytoplankton and bacterioplankton, are food for fish and sea mammals, most of which eventually become food for human beings. Secondly, plankton plays an important role in the earth’s biochemical processes. Phytoplankton, for one, is responsible for the primary production...
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...David Stauth and Stuart WolpertJuly 01, 2010Category: Research Illustration of sabertooth cat fighting with woolly mammoth. (Credit: Mauricio Anton, courtesy of Oregon State University) The extinction of woolly mammoths and other large mammals more than 10,000 years ago may be explained by the same type of cascade of ecosystem disruption that is being caused today by the global decline of predators such as wolves, cougars and sharks, life scientists report July 1 in the cover article of the journal Bioscience. Then, as now, the cascading events were originally begun by human disruption of ecosystems, a new study concludes, but around 15,000 years ago the problem was not the loss of a key predator, but the addition of one — human hunters with spears. This mass extinction was caused by newly arrived humans tipping the balance of power and competing with major predators such as sabertooth cats, the authors of the new analysis argue. An equilibrium that had survived for thousands of years was disrupted, perhaps explaining the loss of two-thirds of North America's large mammals during this period. "We suggest that the arrival of humans to North America triggered a trophic cascade in which competition for the largest prey was intensified, ultimately causing the large non-human carnivores to decimate the large herbivores," said Blaire Van Valkenburgh, UCLA professor of ecology and evolutionary biology and a co-author on the paper. "When human hunters arrived on the scene, they provided...
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...799 0736 Date of Submission: 03 / 16 / 2014 Title of Assignment: Legal, Ethical & Social Values on Having Animals In Captivity CERTIFICATION OF AUTHORSHIP: I certify that I am the author of this paper and that any assistance I received in its preparation is fully acknowledge and disclosed in the paper. I have also cited any sources from which I used data, ideas of words, whether quoted directly or paraphrased. I also certify that this paper was prepared by me specifically for this course. Student Signature: ___________________________ ******************************************* Instructor’s Grade on Assignment: Instructor’s Comments: I. Introduction II. Legal Section A. Licensing Requirements B. Accommodation C. Nutrition D. Sanitation and Disease Control E. Veterinary Care F. General Welfare G. Safety and Security H. Operations III. Ethics Section A. Utilitarian Ethical Analysis B. Kantian Ethical Analysis C. Aristotelian Ethical Analysis IV. Social Responsibility Section V. Conclusion VI. References ABSTRACT Animals are one of the most important things in my life, I have dedicated and I will dedicate my life to animals. This is why this paper is so important for me, but I am sure it is also same as important to the world. Now a days Animals in captivity is something that people is staring at more, they are starting to realize that there is nothing moral...
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...Introduction Since the indefinite commercial whaling moratorium was introduced in 1986, the whaling nations have killed around 15,000 whales between them. At the time of writing, the Japanese whaling fleet has just returned from Antarctic waters where a further 300 or so minke whales have been killed for so called ‘research’, in open defiance of world public opinion and the IWC which has never validated the Japanese programme. The meat from those dead whales will end up on sale in Japanese restaurants and on supermarket shelves. Japan is not only defying the global moratorium on commercial whaling, it is killing whales in a sanctuary agreed by the IWC in 1994. Japan has ‘recruited’ many countries to the IWC to support the resumption of commercial whaling using foreign aid packages. If the ban is lost it will be a disaster for whale conservation efforts. This report presents the many reasons why the ban on commercial whaling must be maintained and properly enforced. We cannot wipe away the tragic history of commercial whaling, but we can, and must, prevent its repetition. The Natural History of Whales Whales belong to the order of mammals known as Cetacea. There are about 80 species of cetaceans, including all the dolphins and porpoises, as well as the ten so-called ‘great’ whale species, which have borne the brunt of commercial whaling. Cetaceans are believed to have evolved from land mammals, which adapted to an aquatic existence about 50 million years ago. They are superbly...
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...Organism Physiology Organism Physiology BIO/ 101 Nov. 30, 2012 University of Phoenix Organism Physiology My paper is going to discuss organism physiology and the basic fundamentals of organism while explaining what my understanding is and what I have learned. In order to better help me understand what organism is I had to first define the meaning. “Organisms are any living thing such as fungus, animals, plants, or micro-organism” (Dictionary.com) in which is a body made up of organs, organelles, along with different other parts that combine together to help continue the process of life. The continuous organisms never stop only cause it is what living things need to live for example the life of a dolphin. Dolphins have been known to be social creatures also being known for their interaction for the purpose of hunting, defense, and reproduction. (Aqua)They are also carnivores that feed on such sea creatures as fish, squid, octopus, cuttlefish, crabs, shrimps, and lobsters as for them; they are mostly food for sharks, killer whales, humans. Most expected age for an normal living Dolphins is said to be around the age of 30 years. Compare to a normal human that’s usually consider a young age. (UnderstandDolphins.com- (Diagram) In looking at the diagram, you see a lot of common factors that most living things have in order to live such as a heart, a brain, bones, and other organs that a body would need to live. As the same as human being animals have certain and...
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...within any population is exceptionally important to the sustainability of any ecosystem or environment. The cycle of life shows us that all species have another species that they rely on for several necessities. Some species use other species for sustenance, some for shelter, or hunting skills. The reasons why species rely on each other vary; however, the need is infinitely important. We will discuss why genetic diversity is so important. We will explain why population management and diversity is necessary to the successful survival of every population. Lastly, we will compare and contrast the ex situ and in situ methods of conservation. It is extremely important for humanity to take responsibility for the failings of some ecosystems and this paper allows us to see the ways that we, as humanity, can help to reverse that damage. Genetic Diversity in Populations Genetic diversity also known as the level of biodiversity simply measures the number of genetic characteristics that the genetic makeup of a particular species consists of. It is different from the term genetic variability as they are many times used alternatively but in reality they are different. So why is genetic diversity so important? It is the basis for the populations of various living species to adapt themselves as the surrounding environment changes. If there is no genetic diversity many of the species will vanish off the face of earth. The environment on the earth changes rapidly and hence with the help of genetic...
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...F Skinner also known as the creator of this study “believed that the mechanisms of learning are the same for all species” (Kiernan, fall 2013) [The citation for a direct quote needs the page number] . Skinner’s taught us [Use "we," "us," or "our" to mean yourself and coauthors, not general humanity (or yourself and the reader)] that any behavior can be accomplished if presented and taught properly through the rules of operant conditioning by simply punishing or reinforcing. Although Skinner was seen [The passive voice is a form of "be" (was) and a participle (seen). Over-use of the passive voice can make paragraphs officious and tedious to read. Prefer the active voice. For example, passive voice = The paper was completed on time. Active voice = the student completed the paper on time.] as the primary figure in this theory, he wouldn’t [Contractions are inappropriate in academic writing--write it out] have been able to [Wordiness: this phrase can be simplified to one word--"could"] accomplish it without the input of E.L Thorndike. Thorndike discovered the “law and effect method stating that behaviors followed by positive outcomes are strengthened and behaviors followed by negative outcomes are weakened” (King, 2013, p178) [The abbreviation for "page" in an in-text citation is "p."] . This was the basic format for Skinner’s approach only that Thorndike discovered this in 1898....
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...Running Head: Environmental Crime Environmental Crime [Name] [School] In partial fulfillment of the requirements for [subject] [Professor] [Date] ABSTRACT Environmental Crime is a very serious crime not only to the present society but also to the next generation of humans, animals and plants. This is a serious matter that affects the whole plant. This research paper discusses the definition of environmental crime, a few examples of companies that had committed environmental crime, environmental laws and crime punishment of the companies who had committed these crimes. Definition of Environmental Crime Environmental Crime is very hard to define. Some people say that it is a white collar crime, to others it is not just simply a white collar crime but it can be considered as crime against society. Whit Gibbons (2001) had shown two types of environmental crime in his article. First type is an individual such as an ordinary person dumping waste to the river and the other type is the white-collared type where companies dump harmful contaminants to a water source or the air. The main difference of the two according to Gibbons (2001) is that it is easier to prosecute an individual than a business corporation. The sad part is the business corporations who commit environmental crimes affects the environment more than an individual. He had treated the business corporation offenders as white-collar criminals and as such defined it...
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...4 Main Idea • • • • • What is a main idea? What is a topic? How do you recognize the difference between general and specific ideas? What is a stated main idea? What is an unstated main idea? Everyday Reading Skills: Selecting a Book Copyright ©2010 by Pearson Education, Inc. 118 CHAPTER 4 Main Idea What Is a Main Idea? The main idea of a passage is the core of the material, the particular point the author is trying to convey. The main idea of a passage can be stated in one sentence that condenses specific ideas or details in the passage into a general, allinclusive statement of the author’s message. In classroom discussions, all of the following words are sometimes used to help students understand the meaning of the main idea. thesis main point central focus gist controlling idea central thought Whether you read a single paragraph, a chapter, or an entire book, many experts agree that your most important single task is to understand the main idea of what you read. Topic Main Idea Major Detail Major Detail Major Detail Minor Detail Minor Detail Minor Detail Minor Detail Minor Detail Recognize General and Specific Words The first step in determining the main idea of a selection is to look at the specific ideas presented in the sentences and try to decide on a general topic or subject under which you can group these ideas. Before tackling sentences, begin with words. Pretend that the sentence ideas in a selection have been reduced...
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