1st Period Magazine

NATURE I N P E R I L MAY 2023 ISSUE 10 VOLUME 12 OCTOPI: HUNG INTERNATIONALLY... BUT FOR WHAT CRIMES RHINOS: THE RACE AGAINST MAKIND'S GREED ORCAS: SEAWORLD'S PETS OR HOSTAGES? ELEPHANTS: IT'S TIME ... FREE THEM Photo by Mrs. Henson

Photograph of two orcas leaping from the ocean, photographer unknown. Freedom (Orca)ptivity Freedom (Orca)ptivity The unintentional destruction of the orca by Minie X. n a slow-paced Monday, 7:30 in the morning, at the Time Magazine’s headquarter, heads turn toward me as I trudge towards my desk. I had only been awake for thirty minutes. Voices ring around me as blurry figures begin to clear up. As I try to keep my eyes open and struggle to maintain control of my mind, I feel a warm, freshly printed packet land softly in front of me. Give me a break. The chemical tang of ink lingered in the air as I forced myself to look up. After trying for what felt like a decade, I see Senior Editor Susan Henson standing tall with a slight grin plastered on her face, what could she possibly be up to now… As I wonder what the contents of the packet entail, she briefly explains that she has chosen me to write a report on the modern ethical issues surrounding orcas! No way, right? This was going to be a challenge. Initially, this project seemed like common sense– those who hold animals captive are painted in a negative light. Marine life has been something my sister and I have been interested in since we were both children as we would sink our toes into soft, gold sand and pay the deep, sparkling waters a visit every summer. This project seemed like the perfect opportunity for me to show off my knowledge of ocean life to my sister, I bet you don’t know what’s coming, Anni. Coming into this assignment, I did not feel very pressured because as far as I was aware, there were not many controversies surrounding this topic. SeaWorld, located in San Antonio, was where my siblings and I got our first picture with an orca. There O they sold merchandise ranging from mugs to cute accessories such as hats and onesies. These once innocent objects marketed towards kids turned muddy once I dug deeper as the hidden, dark truth soon came to light. While browsing the web, I expected all the images to be of orcas flying out of the crystal-clear waters in their iconic crescent moon shape (like those found in cartoons or nature documentaries). To start off, I was pleased to see that my expectations had been met, but as I scrolled further, I was quite shocked to see them outside of the large body of salt water. Goggle Images provided me with numerous photographs of orcas on the seashore, lying on their side or performing shows at theme parks with large crowds. There was even one image of a trainer standing on the lips of the animal! ow cool is that! The deeper I dove, the more appalled I got. The photos of orcas in the wild expressed an ambiance that heavily contrasts those kept behind glass. As I searched further, more images of Killer Whales that roamed freely in the wild were pictured swimming alongside numerous companions in groups called pods. Their luscious leaps, followed by trails of disturbed water, adorned the air as they posed for the camera. While orca calves clung to their parents like their lives depended on it, those behind the glass swam alone or with another orca. In these images, orcas were captured performing midair 360s and jumping through bright colored rings in small, confined spaces. Because of these images, I became skeptical of how achievable it was to meet the needs They seemed freer.

the rest of the body is black, however; there is a patch of white behind each eye and one behind the dorsal fin. Furthermore, a cetacean is an aquatic mammal of the Cetacea order, including whales dolphins, and porpoises. A mammal is a vertebrate member of the Mammalia class consisting of a brain and hair, including animals such as the hippo. Surprisingly, unlike its name suggests, the Killer Whale, due to its size and taxonomy, is most related to the dolphin rather than a whale. Like most mammals, the orca is carnivorous, preying mostly on fish such as salmon. Occasionally, they will feed on animals such as whales, seals, and porpoises. hile I uncovered more information about cetaceans, countless questions strolled into mind: What do humans gain from confining orcas? What makes orca captivity a good thing? Should orcas be set free? Nothing made my mind boggle more than the final question: Should orcas be held in captivity for human curiosity? This question rang endlessly in my mind as I furthered my research. The often made point by proponents for holding in Photograph by David R. Tribble of two orcas performing with their trainers in a 2009 Shamu show at Seaworld in Orlando, Florida. W of large marine animals. or starters, everyone generally has a good understanding of what an orca looks like—It’s black and white, and lives in the ocean. Besides this, the public knows very little about the marine animal. Like us, they are extremely talented performers! Much like humans, they form strong, tight knit families that care for the sick or injured members. Taxonomically speaking, the Killer Whale or as many know, the orca, is a member of the mammalian family Delphinidae, making them a close relative to the beloved Dolphin. It is characterized by one dorsal fin on its back and a pair of pectoral fins, useful for steering to catch prey. There are factors that make this cetacean easy to distinguish from other members of its family: its contrasting colors and substantial size. The killer whale is considered the largest species in its family. While its belly is pearly white, F All jokes aside, orcas can pick up on skills very quickly as they are highly intelligent, emotive, and social creatures.

captivity for curiosity is that it also serves as a way to learn more about the endangered animal. Children and renowned researchers have the opportunity to gain more knowledge about the animal. This point is valid as we have grown to understand how they function and their interactions with other living beings. Furthermore, research has allowed companies like SeaWorld to accommodate changes to the environment necessary for the survival of orcas as they are listed as a nearly extinct species. For example, feeding them the necessary diet for survival and maintaining the right water temperature, aiding them in reproduction. Through this, the survival rate of orcas increases every fifteen years as a result of research. In fact, according to a peer-reviewed article, the average survival rate for orcas born in captivity rose from .941 in 2000 to .976 in 2015. Basically, this indicates that little by little, through research, humans are learning more about orcas and continuing to modify the living environment from captivity and exhibits such as SeaWorld. owever, those who argue in support for captivity due to research fail to recognize the tremendous changes in behavior from orcas in captivity to orcas in the wild. Those opposed to captivity argued that despite these positive results, it causes more harm than good. Because orcas are very smart creatures, they are emotionally and mentally aware that captivity poses a serious threat to their well beings. Big companies such as SeaWorld who take part in orca research must halt the capture of Killer Whales and other aquatic animals for entertainment because it adds addition, unneeded stress to the animals. According to data from 2016, Some signs of aggressions include pushing or pulling trainers into the water, and biting. While these signs appear as a direct result of captivity, it also demonstrates the immense power and intelligence of these apex predators of the sea. For example, Tilikum, an orca who suffered from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) killed up to 3 humans at his time at SeaWorld. This was a result from years of confinement and feeling like a prisoner, causing dangerous signs of aggression to trainers. Despite these signs, the company in charge of Tilikum—SeaWorld—did not take this case seriously and continued to show the orca off at shows. This is because orcas are aware of their emotions due to having a highly developed amygdala. The actions of Tilikum are evidence that orcas are too dangerous to keep under control. Not only do orcas deal with chronic, psychological stress, they also face physical strains because of inadequate care. Take Corky and her children as an example. She was forced to have upwards of seven pregnancies in just a span of 10 years; however, none of her babies survived more than a year. Because she was separated from her mother at such a young age, she was not able to obtain the skills to nurse, thus, leading to the failure to care for her own babies. As a result, like many of us, the loss of her babies took a dramatic toll on her mental and physical health. As of 2019, there are 60 orcas behind man made tanks, 56.7% of current orcas were born in captivity. In the face of drastic advancements in veterinary care and therapy, these cetaceans often succumb to death as a result of negligence. After learning more about this sea animal, I realized just how oblivious I had been prior to documenting this issue. But, following extensive consideration, I finally came up with an answer to the last question—should orcas be held in captivity for human curiosity? I believe that orcas should not be held captive due to the levels of stress— internally and externally—they will experience throughout their lifetime. Despite the reasons for their captivity being morally realistic, they should not be removed from their natural habitats in the first place as it causes greater damage to their survival if they were to be released back into the wild. Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinions; all I wish from you is to consider the orca. 45% of orcas held in captivity by SeaWorld have been involved in aggressive incidents. H

b y T a m m y N . T . HANGING b y a T h r e a d As I continued to dive deeper, I was met with pictures that further altered my perspective of humanity. M onday morning in New York City is the worst day of the week. Sitting at my local coffee shop with a steaming cup in my hands, I watch the hustle and bustle of commuters rushing to work from all directions. It’s true when they say that this is the city that never sleeps. At only 5:45 a.m., I watch the morning chaos: individuals running into each other, spilling their coffees across the sidewalk, and wishing that the weekend lasted longer. As I stepped into the headquarters of Time Magazine, chaos followed. Telephones were ringing in every direction, and heels were clicking across the tiled floor. Even the coffee machine had enough of its job, exploding the liquid substance across the walls and releasing the aroma for all to smell. I sat down in my cubicle just as Chief Editor Susan Henson arrived at my desk. A grin is plastered on her face, a distinct contrast from my mopey, tired expression. What can she possibly want at the brink of dawn? My question is answered when she reveals my new assignment. I am to produce an article about the rhinoceros, one that our readers have not read. And if done well, I would have the potential to receive a promotion. As Mrs. Henson left my desk, I closed my eyes, already wanting to leave work for the day. Surely, it was way too early for this! The assignment itself seemed rather simple. The challenge instead lies in the fact that Mrs. Henson requested the article by 7:00 a.m. on Thursday. This woman is crazy! Concern plagued my mind, and annoyance bubbled inside me. But not wanting to turn in yet another late assignment, I opened my laptop, ready to start working. I began to research the rhinoceros, scouring the internet for more information. After coming across the newly released documentary, The Last Animals, I began watching the film. The title had to be an exaggeration… right? However, I was A photograph by Brent Stirton from the National Geographic of a rhino after hunters poached its horn and shot it several times. wrong. Unbeknownst to many, including myself, Africa is currently suffering from an epidemic of poachers. And as rhinos are continuously hunted, their population is continuously dwindling to the point that they are estimated to soon die out. After viewing the documentary, I wanted to further my research and decided to look for photographs of the rhinoceros. I was shocked to see that the first ones to appear on Google Images showcased the beauty of these animals rather than the inhumanity and cruelty they face. These photos looked like they jumped out of a National Geographic magazine, capturing rhinos trotting in their natural habitat – vast savanna grasslands that rhinos spend their days basking on. But as I continued to dive deeper, I was met with pictures that further altered my perspective of humanity. What I saw was anything but happiness. My screen was covered with images of rhinos whose legs and arms were bound by ties, unable to escape the human vultures. One, in particular, caught my attention. A news article cover reported an incident in Paris, France, in which a 4-year-old rhinoceros named Vince was found dead after poachers broke into a zoo. Three bullets shattered his skull, leaving blood gushing from the gaping holes left behind. The crime scene was even more heartbreaking. The gruesome sight Roar for change. Rally for rhinos. Unite against the tide of extinction.

In fact, one rhinoceros suffers this same fate every day. I t is, however, hard to believe that one of the largest land animals is being poached. I mean, the rhinos stand at a whopping average of six feet high and ten feet A photograph by Brent Stirton of an anesthetized white rhino getting his horn chainsawed at a game farm in North-West Province, South Africa. showcased flakes of keratin sprinkled across Vince’s body as the chainsaw violently severed his horn. In fact, one rhinoceros suffers this same fate every day. Additionally, 1,000 rhinos were killed each year between 2013 and 2017, with 2014 being the deadliest year with 3,000 deaths. With these disturbing statistics, I began to question how some allow their greed to conquer their humanity, doing whatever it takes to benefit themselves, even if it is to the detriment of others. As I continued to scroll, my faith in mankind continuously diminished. After the rhino horns are smuggled across the borders, they are converted into trendy accessorizing pieces – accent bowls, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and more – to be sold to the highest bidders across the dark web. An image captured my attention, drawing me into a home that was covered entirely by rhino horns and items crafted from them. Across the floor lay thousands of various-sized bowls with intricate jade carvings, a highly rare commodity on the black market. But it didn’t stop there… sharp horns, along with millions of glistening jewelry pieces, were displaced on acres of shelves holding thousands of pounds of goods. The owner of the home, with tears staining his pale face, is continuously spewing out words of apology in hopes that the policeman will let him go. These individuals have made a living profiting off of this illegal activity, neglecting how they are harming others to benefit themselves. It was then that I realized that this seemingly easy assignment was not so easy after all. Oh God, please help me! In the midst of rush hour, I walked out of the office and scanned my card into the subway station. Perplexed by the hidden horrors, I decided that I would uncover the tragedies of animal abuse and provide justice for rhinos. Getting out a small notepad, I jotted down my ideas while I waited for my train to come. The possibility of the promotion left my mind, only to be replaced with the hope that by writing this article, rhino treatment would change. There is no doubt that rhinoceroses are currently facing extinction due to human activity. However, the recent poaching crisis is not the only time in which these animals have been on the brink of extinction. Beginning in the 19th century, hunting became such a popular sport that, by 1895, only 100 southern white rhinos remained. And between 1950 and 1990, 95 percent of the black rhino population was decimated. But with the help of 'Operation Rhino' in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park and other initiatives, rhino populations have been preserved. Yet despite efforts made, rhinoceroses continue to be hunted. long, weighing over four tons. They are remarkably agile, with the ability to run at a speed of 45 kilometers per hour. Part of the Mammalia class, rhinos are hairless and have one or two horns on the surface of their snout. Similar to elephants, they're able to communicate through infrasonic frequencies below the human range and possess acute senses of hearing and smell. Moreover, rhinos are referred to as pachyderms, deriving from the Greek terms pachys (thick) and derma (skin) to allude to their collagen fiber folds. They belong to the Rhinocerotidae family, consisting of five species of rhinoceroses: Sumatran, Javan, Indian, white, and black rhinoceroses. The first three are native to South and Southeast Asia, while the following two are native to Africa. Though rhinos can move fairly quickly despite their short, stubby legs, they prefer to graze in densely vegetated areas within the Eastern Hemisphere. Interestingly enough, rhinoceroses are great swimmers despite their itsy-bitsy legs and are one of the largest living land perissodactyls, famous for being odd-toed ungulates. Fun fact, rhinos are essentially chubby unicorns. I mean, they both have long, sought-after horns and are known for their power and nobility. It’s truly shocking how many can’t make this resemblance (I’m kidding, of course)! Surprisingly, male rhinos are nicknamed bulls, and female rhinos are known as cows, though rhinoceroses are not related to cattle. In fact, they are cousins of the horse. Both of these animals derive from the same order, Perissodactyla, and are hoofed ungulate mammals, similar to deer, giraffes, camels, pigs,

Subsequently, proponents of making rhino hunting illegal note the detrimental effects humans have on the rhinos' lives, believing that they should be spared – that humans should not contribute to yet another animal becoming extinct. Will rhinos ever live freely without human intervention? Will the inhumanity against them ever end? Or will they only cease to exist in history books and historic documentaries? Granted, at first glance, proponents of making rhino hunting legal make some valid points. The first reason is its potential benefits within the medical industry. For instance, rhinoceros horns have been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) after being ground into a fine powder and dissolved in boiling water. In a peer-reviewed research study, scientists concluded that 80% of people who take TCM are aware of the use of rhino horn as a medicinal ingredient. And within this 80%, 21.5% of respondents have consumed TCM within the past year, though they are aware of the effects it has on the rhinoceros species. Funny enough, many believe that the horns can be used to treat a variety of illnesses, like cancer and typhoid, along with curing hallucinations and preventing strokes, yet there is no clear or direct evidence that they have medicinal properties. So as many believe this factoid to be true and are ignorant of the pain it causes to rhinos, there is an increasing demand for horns to be poached and sold to Asian countries. That’s 463,000 rhinos in twenty-three years! W A photograph by Brent Stirton of a woman in a Vietnamese cafe grinding up a rhino horn for its "medicinal" purposes. She does this by mixing water and rubbing the horn over the sand-like bottom of the dish. and tapirs. Furthermore, rhinos and horses are herbivores that originated in India. But through continental drift and animal migration, horses now reside primarily in North America, rhinos in Africa, and both in Asia. Not to mention, both of these animals have been domesticated for human purposes, a fact that raises many ethical concerns. ith that being said, an indisputable issue arises: should anthropocentrism be pursued? Should humans exploit others to benefit themselves? Should rhinoceros hunting be legalized in rhinoendemic countries such as South Africa? Many contend that rhinoceros hunting should be illegal as its detrimental effects far outweigh the potential benefits. For instance, some advocates believe that legalizing this activity disturbs the natural order of the world by interfering with the process of natural selection and introducing artificial selective pressure. In a peer-reviewed article, researchers note that similar patterns have occurred in other animals, like tuskless elephants and smaller-horned goats. They fear that if the favorable trait of large and long horns is not passed down to future generations, rhinos are likely to die out within two centuries. The selective hunting of larger horns, because of their larger value, will inevitably change the genetic makeup of the rhino population, disrupting the mechanism of evolution and evidently causing the rhino’s demise. Similarly, Oscar Wilson, a researcher at the University of Cambridge, believes that the rhinoceros horns' shrinking in size will have inevitable consequences. He concludes that smaller horns will not only interfere with their ability to mate and defend their territory but that an increase in poaching will be necessary to make up for the loss in volume and value that the large rhino horns once provided. However, though rhino hunting is a lucrative business that generates millions in profit, there is a greater cost to doing so: rhinoceros extinction. Shockingly, there are currently only about 27,000 rhinos left in the world, compared to 500,000 at the start of the 20th century. That’s 463,000 rhinos in twentythree years! Statistics like these only heighten the debate over the ethical issues of harming an animal to benefit one’s interests. This is because moral virtues and principles have led many to believe that killing is inherently wrong, basing the foundation of their argument on the very fact that it is unjustifiable to cause others suffering. These advocates contend that rhinos have long been subjected to cruel, sadistic treatment by mankind, a process that must be halted. Furthermore, there is a greater advantage to making rhinoceros hunting legal for this animal: its benefits to

After considering all sides – those who favor and oppose rhino hunting – it can be concluded that South Africa should lead other nations in the global endeavor to outlaw this practice. Regulations must be implemented in order to preserve the rhinoceroses, as mankind oftentimes inflicts cruelty on the rhino population, with little regard for how they are causing them to suffer. Consequently, if future rhino generations are to persist, inhumanity against rhinos must be terminated. Thus, South Africa and other countries should unite to ban rhino hunting altogether. This is the only viable approach to putting an end to this epidemic. I If future rhino generations are to persist, inhumanity against rhinos must be terminated. A photograph by Brent Stirton of a decomposing rhino whose horn has been ripped off and is laying where it was strangled by the poacher's wire snare. conservation efforts. For example, most African rhinos live in enclosed areas that, when overpopulated, lead to the decline of their populations. A prominent factor in this is the aggressive, dominant tendency of old male rhinos to fight over territory, oftentimes killing one another along with females and babies in the process. These supporters feel that these rhinos are not advantageous since they contribute to the extinction of other members of their species, are unable to help with reproduction, and have a negative influence on the food supply. In addition, hunting rhinos has a socio-economic benefit as well. As older male rhinos are killed to control the population, their horns are sold to raise money for conservation efforts. These individuals assert that if African countries like Namibia are able to see an increase in rhinos after legalizing hunting, similar approaches can be taken in South Africa. In a research journal, experts examined the fact that the black rhino population was able to double through persistent conservation efforts after dropping by a staggering 98 percent between 1960 and 1995. Other researchers, however, argue that conservation efforts actually push rhinos closer to extinction rather than helping to preserve their lives, as hunters become greedy and overkill these animals for their own gain. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) devastatingly noted that the rhino population at around 27,000. So although proponents of legalizing rhinoceros hunting make seemingly good arguments, the premise of their claims is not based on t is human actions that render the rhino’s ability to return to the wild, and it must be human actions that prevent the rhino’s extinction. But ultimately, the ethical debate over rhinoceros hunting hinges on basic principles: is pursuing anthropocentrism morally justifiable? Do people have the right to use their power to inflict pain on others? Where do the values of humanity lie? Is it the egocentric belief to benefit oneself at all costs? Or is it to aid those in need, protecting the wellbeing and livelihoods of entire species? The answer is simple. Humans should protect the rhino species – the real-life unicorns – at all costs. Humans should protect the rhino species – the real-life unicorns – at all costs. concrete, provable facts. Their reasoning is therefore undermined, making their argument weaker than that of those who support making this practice illegal.

Sentient Octopus Balls Drawing by The West Australian They can cause pain, but not as much as they can feel it. by Khoa N. Rise and shine to a glorious Monday. There isn’t a better morning than a hot cup of coffee while eating scrambled eggs with bacon. Well, until the realization that I have a due research report for my boss, senior editor Henson. Oh crap, the deadline for my assignment is in a week! The morning vibe faded away to nothingness. My laziness has shot me in the foot once more. I should not prolong the task, I sighed. It isn't about the pay but rather the annoying, bothersome, pointless scolding again in a five-hour meeting and having my dream promotion gone like the wind. Cough, back to the topic. The boss lady requests an ethical debate over whether we should eat octopus. Bothersome, but I need to pay rent! Eating an eight-arm sea balloon isn't a foreign concept to me: coming from a southeastern Asian background, I consider octopus a common cooking ingredient. I have had my fair share of Takoyaki and stirred-fired octopus tentacles, hot and steamy with a rich balance taste of spicy and sweet. Truly a dish made in heaven. It shouldn't be wrong to eat to satisfy one's hunger. However, it is a crime to gate-keep such a delicious meal! For heaven’s sake, there are millions of octopuses in the sea to never run out. Some other sea creatures would feed on these creatures if we humans don't. Heck, octopuses would gladly devour crabs and lobster. It is what Mother Nature intended. The report still needs some scientific significance for credibility; otherwise, I would write a Twitter post. To the web! She is cutting my salary this time around. I should not have signed the five years long contract without reading it. What can you do, being young and in desperate need of money? This job used to be meaningful! The loneliest animal on the planet

Let’s see what the webs reveal. In the deep blue ocean where sunlight can still reach, a photograph of a baby octopus riding in a half-shattered glass bottle interested a deep-sea diver. There, an octopus was in its perfect environment. Free to roam the endless sea searching for purpose. Collecting memories along the way: the bottle will serve as a shelter until it gets replaced. Untouched by man, there they were in charge of their destiny. Released into this cold world alone to many dangers but equipped with gifts of evolution to survive like their ancestor once did. It is a beautiful natural occurrence. Then, there is a picture of a smiling kid in front of an octopus tank inside a restaurant. Octopus' tentacles reach out to the glass. Their lifeless eyes saw hope as the child turned back at them. The excitement felt by the child. Then they were called by their parent to come back. The hope is soon back to pitch black. Tentacles clinging onto the glass disappear afterward. Onlookers pass while chatting their days away. An employee was preparing themself to take out a live octopus on the side. These pictures are common occurrences, from octopuses living solitary lives in the ocean to being caged for society to find entertainment. Yet we are countless on what an octopus is. What are they? How similar are they to humans? Can they feel pain? Do they have a life besides being a part of civilization? Are we the bad guy? Octopus’s name came from the Greek word for "eight feet," and they are scientifically classified as Octopus Vulgaris. Octopuses are acknowledged to have the most intelligence of all invertebrates. They are known for having a squashed head and two big round eyes. Pitch black almost covers the eyes surface or an irregular shape present as the pupil. Smooth but vulnerable skin to fill into small gaps for hiding from predators equip highly developed pigment-bearing cells to change their skin tone. There, they have eight stinky arms for grabbing and holding ocean scraps. Known to be the collector of the sea, they have a vast number of resources in their garden. They also require stimulating and dynamic environments for maximum success because they are playful and curious creature. The concept of eating octopuses can be justifiable, but humanity has over-reached its boundaries by torturing these octopuses for their gain. Octopus farms are inhumane. There is a report of 350,000 metric tons of octopus harvested annually for consumer-based industries. Over 100 species of octopus are domesticated in tightly crowded farms. They are profitable for their short life and rapid reproduction, but octopuses can only produce once. The management of these farms raises several issues. Captured octopuses only lived two years short and were under stress constantly. By Albert K. a Octopus Vulgaris

There may be justification for octopus farms, but society is causing unnecessary pain to sentient beings. They are intelligent and emotional creatures that need researching, not massacred endlessly to be food. From starters, octopuses can experience stress, curiosity, dislike/like, and pain like humans. In multiple conduct experiments back in the '90s, octopuses were allowed multiple meal options to test their emotions. Throughout testing, many octopuses opt for their favorite dishes. Many other tests also went on regarding the animals' fight or flight responses. In most dire situations, they showed normal aversive behavior of inking, jetting away, or arm autonomy for survival. Then there were the showcases of their intelligence. In a laboratory setting too, they have shown themselves adept at solving mazes and other puzzles to acquire a food reward. In conclusion, is it within civilization's best interest to stop the inhumane practice of octopus farms and prioritize equal treatment of octopuses. Humanity does not deserve the 350,000 metric tons of octopuses. Too many octopuses are forcibly slaughtered despite their short lifespan and bred recklessly in the name of profit. Pollution and the endangerment of ecosystems, needing to feed the massive population: outweigh the pros. Furthermore, through many research reports and media attention: octopuses were recognized as intelligent creatures being to solve puzzles and memorize mazes while also having the capability to process feeling. For the future of mankind to advance, we must stop inflicting unnecessary harm on powerless animals and ensure their prosperity under the might of humanity. by Nathan R. a photo of an octopus opening a jar Recreating a suitable environment for octopus mating requires extended micromanaging. Octopuses require the right temperature and oxygen level and are free from harm to stimulate a mating condition. Many businesses will eventually cut cost and opts out of immortal practice by aggressively forcing octopuses to mate and force-feeding them to meet the deadline. In doing so, there have been many accounts of pollution, destruction of ecosystems to feed the octopus population, parasites infected, death of fertilized females, highly aggressive octopuses, and mortality reaching 20+%. Yet despite knowing the hazardous method done to these innocent creatures, many governments and investors overlook the issue and demand more of the product. This correlated to the creature's playful nature with its limited lifespan and opportunities to discover new things. Memorize-wise, a test subject was able to remember the ability to open a screw top jar for at least five months and even recognized the scientist face after the experiment. There much to still much more to unravel about octopi’s complexities and to treat them as fellow intellectual beings rather than send them into senseless death. Society is the problem!

SeaWorld Scandal Orcas are normally docile towards humans, however the adoption of orcas in water theme parks has people in a moral dilemma on whether or not orcas should be used in entertainment. Routine has become my thing recently. Every early morning at the Time Magazine office, I walk amongst a mass of my groggy colleagues heading toward their cubicles. My worn-out leather shoes, ripping holes in the soles, create a particular clink sound that intensifies the atmosphere as it shows my authority. I see everyone’s heads lift above their dividers as my aura intimidates them into a proper posture. But my demeanor is just a facade as the office light, particularly unbearable in the morning, helps me wake up just like everyone else. I arrive at my light brown wooden table with work sprawled across it, hiding the ringing in my head from my lack of sleep with composure. As I try to adjust to the bright office atmosphere, I open my computer for another day of mind-numbing paper writing. I’ve got to get out of this routine soon or I’ll go crazy! I started my research for the article by scrolling through Google images to get an idea about orcas, and initially, I felt indifferent toward them. Sure, I saw my fair share as a kid watching Shamu at Sea World, so the orcas just seemed like any other animal to me—until now. As I scrolled down the images, I found their size and their unusually apparent colors remarkable. There was a myriad of orcas jumping, swimming, and doing tricks with a person whilst these beasts stood on their noses. Pictures of spectators filling the bleachers overcame my feed, showing them getting splashed and enjoying the orca shows, especially at SeaWorld. While viewing the picture, suppressed memories resurfaced of how cool the orcas looked my first time at SeaWorld. On this particular morning, however, Senior Editor, Susan Henson, had other plans for the office as she proposes a new idea for an editorial. Finally, something new in this boring office... Senior Editor Henson hands me a prompt for an article outlining the controversies surrounding orcas and their living environments. Anyone working at the Time Magazine office should know that the article I gaze upon the seemingly never-ending packet of an assignment with ambition. Although I was tired, I got to work straight away on researching orcas, uncharacteristic of my usual regimen of sifting through files. assignments should be anything but monotonous. Please tell me this isn’t an April Fool's joke. I accept it with poise, reluctant to show anyone the pure teenage excitement inside of me. by: Long P

Fluorescent ceiling lights and my lack of sleep hum reverberated in the back of my head as I reflected on my ignorance. I rubbed my temples to alleviate the pain when I realized I was following the consensus that animals are kept captive in satisfactory living conditions. I had failed to consider that they were also intelligent creatures that could do things as they wished, making me no different from the people who conformed to such a thought process blindly. SeaWorld visitors tend to be attracted to the shows that exhibit sea animals; one of the common animals highlighted is the Killer Whale. While the name “killer whale” can be attributed to 20 different species, the consensus recognizes killer whales’ taxonomic species name as Orcinus orca and is commonly referred to as an orca. Contrary to its name, killer whales are considered dolphins because of their rounded snouts and similar teeth. Although they are iconic for being powerful carnivores, they are docile toward humans in the wild, with no recorded cases of human deaths from orcas. But all these facts leave many questions to be answered: “Are the captivity of orcas, keeping them safe from the elements of their natural environment, or is it depriving them of it? Do they genuinely feel happy during their shows or with the lack of other orcas? Does the entertainment of humans trump the well-being of a, regarded as inferior, creature?” Confined to my cubicle, I allow these questions to run rampant in my mind with no outlet. How can so many people stay blind to the problems that plague their entertainment and the injustices that are the orca captivity system? However, they also share characteristics that are likeable despite their menacing features. Orcas are social creatures that tend to live in groups called “pods,” where the orcas care for the young collectively. They can be found in groups of 10 to 60 orcas and reside more frequently in coastal waters and higher latitudes. Orcas utilize echolocation to communicate with their pods or for feeding. Three types of killer whales reside in the Northeastern Pacific Ocean with each type having distinct vocalizations, diets, and social behaviors. Socialization through calls, groups of animals, and collective hunting are orca traits that are akin to those of wolves. These characteristics make them somewhat like the “wolves of the sea”. Regardless of their similarities to wolves, a major point that stood out to me was that they were “known to be highly intelligent”. Orcas are iconic for one thing, their size. They are easily the biggest out of its taxonomy family, Delphinidae; male orcas can grow more than 10 meters long, and 9800 pounds (about 4445.2 kg), and female orcas can grow up to 8.5 meters, and weigh much less than males. They are distinguishable by their jet-black top, and pure white bottoms/patches around their eyes. They have large, rounded pectoral fins and large dorsal fins, with males usually having bigger ones. Orcas can also have up to 14 teeth on each side of their jaws. Overall, orcas are distinct from different animals. Orca size in comparison to humans and the distinct black and white colors by: Britannica in 2010 The most disturbing thing is that I was somewhat of a contributing factor to these images. I had once unknowingly gone, paid for, and enjoyed such an event, and I was ignorant of all the things that may have been occurring behind the scenes. My curiosity and naivete led me down the page-- this was a mistake. I started looking at the captions and there was a recurring theme of violent tendencies from orcas, signs of boredom, mistreatment, and overall unethical practices, like keeping the orcas in a concrete container, in SeaWorld. Shoot, how have I never seen these things ? Before I could even form an opinion on these fascinating creatures, I was bombarded with pictures of orcas with chipped teeth, orcas fighting other orcas, and disturbing captions. "they are like wolves because of their packlike mentality of staying together"

Even if an individual believes that man’s needs supersede the needs of animals, they cannot deny the fact that the animals’ well-being could correspond with our safety. The continuation of these shows may only cause more incidents like the Death at SeaWorld , which is undesirable for both the orcas and humans. However, this brings to light the major concern of SeaWorld and AAZPA’s Ethics and Law Working Group: to appease their critics. They claim that natural and appropriately spaced enclosures are ethical and that seems completely rational to the average uninformed consumer, but a consensus reached by many is to stop captivity altogether. No amount of nature and space in an enclosure is comparable to the environment of the open sea. Shockingly, even the attempts at appeasement were not fully implemented, as orcas are held in concrete containers when they are not performing shows. With all these factors in mind, the attack should have been expected. Tilikum was subjected to copious periods of stress, confinement, and boredom. Tilikum was searching for one thing: an outlet. "Orcas are quite big and travel long distances every day, up to 100 miles a day. " Tilikum grabs SeaWorld trainer, Dawn Brancheau, killing her in the process with blunt force, a disturbing event that was the main subject of the book “ Death at SeaWorld ” which attacks the ethics of SeaWorld’s captivity. Why did Tilikum attack the trainer? Well, it may not seem apparent, but the orca was kept in confinement and attacked out of frustration. I know right? That crazy! Shockingly, this is not the first time that this has occurred. As previously mentioned, orcas are highly intelligent and social creatures. They have a will of their own and should be treated as such; however, SeaWorld keeps them isolated in small areas where they cannot swim or socialize, depriving them of their natural tendencies. Something I have noticed is that humans seem to do things that favor their enjoyment over all else, and sometimes this leads them to be oblivious to things they would naturally be against . This principle 1 is what SeaWorld must lean on; its lifeline; its revenue. Since they are dangerous it is rational to remain mindful of the mental state of the creatures. However, It is undeniable that orcas dislike captivity and there are a multitude of instances where their displeasure has been showcased. Kiska, a 44-yearold extremely neglected orca, resides in captivity and has been there since 1979. Due to its seclusion, it succumbs to its emotions and rams its head into the walls of the enclosure. So, is everyone just oblivious or outright disregarding such an immoral thing? Yes, in much of the industry, people capitalize off the shows, and the public, but there are people who wish to preserve the population through conservation methods. Whether or not keeping animals in insufficient enclosures to maintain their populations is ethical, lies in the eye of the beholder. A small oversight is that certain captive orcas may be transient, a type of orca that prefers eating and hunting marine mammals, which makes them unsuited for captivity. One thing to keep in mind, from 2016 to 2018, Russia caught 91 live mammals, and 84 of those mammals were sent to China, where the orcas will live the rest of their lives being fed frozen fish. Frozen fish is definitely not a mammal nor is it something that they hunt for, two things transients would instinctively prefer. The factors work collectively to create a stressful environment, making the orcas more prone to attacking their trainers. All in all, the captivity of orcas should be considered exploitation because their internment does more harm than good, while also being a large source of income for the people in the entertainment industry. Orcas in captivity display, on multiple occasions, that they are not meant to be restrained by humans. It may be within human interest to abide by these signs to keep themselves and the orcas safe. It is not ethical to keep them in captivity because they can feel and express emotions much like humans, which can cause self-harm and harm to others. Just to note, we are animals too, but proponents of speciesism do not realize that animals, like Tilikum, can cause fatal damage to us, the self-proclaimed “superior beings”. If we are superior, why are humans susceptible to death caused by a bout of frustration from the animal?

Photo of orca posing at a show in San Diego, California. Leon7. Created: 6 October, 2009 Protect the Orcas The Interment of Giant Whales By: Arman N. On a bright, sunny morning, I hurried out of bed to make myself a delicious breakfast and take in the stunning early morning scenery. I went for my morning walk after breakfast, experiencing the cool breeze and taking in the scenery. As soon as I got home, I put on my suit and freshly polished shoes. Woah, I look like a new man. I was full of energy and prepared to go to my company headquarters to receive any new work. As I walked into the office, I waved to my coworkers and got to work finishing up so I could leave early and spend some quality time with my loved ones or perhaps go out to an excellent eatery later that night. Perhaps I should do something more intriguing. I grabbed the phone, and called my senior editor, Susan Henson, to assign me any work she may have. I was a little hesitant to accept the duty of conducting research, but I did so with the hope of impressing her with my results or perhaps even obtaining a promotion. Mrs. Henson responds, “Then perhaps you could do some research on orcas.” I was a little taken away by the research animal she gave me. Who cares if orcas exist? Isn't that a bit of nonsense? But I had to satisfy my senior editor, so I had to give it my best attempt. The merchandise offered by Sea World that parents and kids find appealing includes plush toys of orcas as well as a variety of other animal species, including dolphins, sting rays, and more. I was a little in awe of these creatures, but I was also curious to see something I had never seen before. How are these beasts raised in these tiny steel prison cells? They can’t even move freely As I was browsing Google, my attention was drawn to an intriguing commercial that featured the biggest event, Sea World. The joy of seeing all the happy orcas filled my eyes. Pods of orcas leap into the air. The enormous sea creature's stunning, startling hues are petted by the trainers. Several orcas are swimming through the magnificent glaciers of Antarctica. I was astounded. This might be it. I exhaled with satisfaction after learning that I was able to impress my senior editor by learning about a rare creature that I had doubted I would ever be able to study. My obstinate self could not wait to find out more about the area and look through pictures to see if anything was intriguing that would help me stand out. In the interest of discovering more about the location, I began searching for any relevant information. The pictures of orcas performing in groups and having fun with their trainers astounded my eyes. I was astounded by the orcas’ beauty as well as their size, something I did not expect. My attention was drawn by the stark contrast of black and white. The orcas' vibrant colors attracted attention, but they additionally had equally razor-sharp teeth as those of a tiger shark poised for a hunt. I was left wondering, do orcas typically have a fin like that? along with its white eye spots. Orcas were not just creatures, as I had previously thought. The stark contrast of black and white colors attracted attention.

Photo of orcas swimming in a pod, a natural behavior by the species to stay highly social. Robert Huffstutter But I was unaware that as I continued to scroll down, I would uncover the most terrible pictures of any animal I had ever seen, including orcas being treated in the worst manner and being held captive. I wondered if the orcas were receiving enough care after observing so many of them lying in cramped areas in the water. My intransigent nature was unable to withstand the conditions in which orcas are kept. The death rate of orcas at Sea World is twice higher than the death rate of orcas in the wild. Orcas are supposed to reside in a natural setting. As I scrolled farther, I saw trainer deaths, blood on the fangs of the orcas’, and trainers pleading for help as they floated in water. Not only did I witness the deaths of the trainers, but I also witnessed the number of orcas’ attacking and devouring one another's flesh. I was astounded to learn just how many captive orcas were being kept in water tanks that were far too small for the animals to even exist in. However, many orcas were being returned to their native habitat; nevertheless, it was far too late for me to even consider letting them go, as many orcas may have died in Sea World due to the care they receive from these trainers and the conditions in which they are kept. As captive orcas are accustomed to consuming fresh food in their native habitat, I also saw that frozen food was being fed to these animals, which is against what is recommended for their diet. I could not believe the pain these animals were enduring. Sigh. This startled me since I had begun to believe that the orcas' challenging environment was having an impact on their actions Normally, orcas are praised for their talents, but there is plenty more to know about orcas than just their popularity in Sea World. The biggest member of the dolphin family, Delphinidae, is the killer whale, popularly known as an Orcinus orca, which originated from the scientific Latin name. Because of its distinctive black-and-white body pattern, it is the only species that remains in the genus Orcinus. The robust jaws have 40–50 massive, pointed, conical teeth, and the blunt-tipped snout. Furthermore, a broad variety of aquatic animals, including dolphins, whales, and porpoises, belong to the suborder known as cetaceans. Additionally, a broad variety of aquatic animals, including dolphins, whales, and porpoises, belong to the suborder known as cetaceans In contrast to female orcas, which have a length of 8.5 meters and weigh considerably less than male orcas, male orcas grow to a length of more than 10 meters, or nearly 33 feet, and a weight of about 9,800 kg. Besides Homo sapiens, pilot whales, false killer whales, and narwhals, killer whales are one of the few mammals that go through menopause. According to biologists, two distinct groups with different physical characteristics and dietary preferences have emerged. Fish, seals, and other creatures are preyed upon by one population, which is distinguished by small individuals with a maximum length of 6.6 meters and substantial tooth wear. In contrast to the other group which is distinguished by bigger individuals with a length of 8.5 meters and little tooth wear, considered to only eat dolphins and whales The important thing to understand is that orcas have evolved from the dolphin family to a time when they hunt and prey on larger whale species. They are sometimes referred to as the rulers of the oceans, along with sharks, or as one of the most hazardous creatures to coexist with mankind in modern times. Orcas are basically like us! They are also excellent hunters, just like our predecessors who hunted for food and clothing, but orcas show off their prowess through pods, which they hunt in while tending to their injured young. Orcas are much more than we can reasonably expect. Isn't that fascinating? Furthermore, orcas cooperate with others for mutual advantage, just like humans. Killer Whales one of the few mammals that go through menopause

Several proponents support the captivity of orcas since it is beneficial for both the citizens and the species itself. Many scientists and biologists who study these animals regularly have found some benefits from the advantages of captive orcas. Due to their uniqueness and vulnerability, orcas require special care and monitoring. Due to the extensive care, they receive at marine parks while in captivity, orca offspring are durable and well-maintained. There is a chance that the amount of living killer whales will rise once more because many of these species have been able to regenerate and become sustainable once more. Photo of trainer handling the orca during a show in Loro Parque. Piotr Konieczny According to peer-reviewed articles, many people believe it would be beneficial to keep orcas in marine conservation areas. Julie Scardina, an animal advocate for Sea World, claims that scientists can learn more about the unusual species in captivity than they might discover in the wild. A close-up view of an orca jumping from 14 to 15 feet is fascinating. Since the drowning in 2010, Sea World claims to have invested $70 million in enhancing the habitats at three U.S. marine animal parks. The tragic death of a trainer in 2010 has led the federal government to take preventative measures by implementing new legislation aimed at safeguarding instructors at marine mammal facilities. Numerous scientists feel that orcas not only receive intensive treatment but also educate citizens and advance whale preservation. The general population is educated about marine life through programs at marine parks. The general people could be less interested in aquatic creatures without this direct exposure. On the contrary, other proponents are against the concept of captivity because they believe harming orcas would explain why they have altered their behavior and there have been more trainer fatalities. The label "abusement park" was given to Sea World in 1955, and the theme of the facility is to make money by using sentient aquatic creatures as labor. When kept in captivity, orcas have a lower likelihood of going extinct and a higher chance of reproducing, which boosts their population before being reintroduced into the wild. The robust jaws have 40–50 massive, pointed, conical teeth, and the blunt-tipped snout. They employ this understanding to comprehend the physiological needs of orcas and the effects of human existence on them. Scientists discovered that the pregnancy time is higher than initially believed due to studies on orcas kept in captivity and their estrogen levels. When kept in captivity, orcas have a lower likelihood of going extinct and a higher chance of reproducing, which boosts their population before being reintroduced into the wild.

Following the public release of a video showing two orcas fighting each other, PETA claims that they complained to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and requested that the park be investigated for violating the Animal Welfare Act. When Nakai was placed in a small tank with two other orcas, their behavior changed, and the orcas began to fight against one another. Nakai suffered severe injuries as a result and lost a significant portion of his jaw. The pressure from the public following the incident resulted in a significant loss for Sea World as the widely watched film Blackfish, which in-depth examined the tragic fate of imprisoned whales, contributed to a decline in visitors to marine mammal parks and prompted SeaWorld to declare that it would cease breeding orcas. Other investigations contend that orcas are not just kept as animals for human amusement but also separated from their families, forced to perform stunts for meals, and kept in captivity where they break their jaws on steel bars. Numerous orcas had bacterial illnesses as a result of the confined habitat. According to PETA, over 40 orcas have passed away at SeaWorld from illnesses like bacterial infections and skull fractures. This situation may result in heightened violence, sickness, unsuccessful baby parenting, and even mortality. The government has passed laws to protect marine species, such as the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, which aimed to establish suitable management standards to preserve their place in the maritime environment. Activists have further argued that keeping orcas in tiny aquariums is cruel. Tilikum, an orca known for swimming 100 miles per day, was forced to dwell in a small area and changed how he interacted with his trainers as a result of being given a small location— about the size of a tiny prison cell. Many orcas experience significant strain as a result of exposure, which can have negative health effects. When predators are deprived of the chance to seek food, they frequently acquire wounds and unusual hostility, and selfharm. As a result, the park frequently has significant death rates. A number of these incidents resulted in Sea Worlds being forced to close by the public. Many orcas have been spared as a result and returned to the wild. Is it ethical to keep orcas captive for human entertainment? Even though orcas are a valuable source of knowledge concerning marine life and are provided with extensive care, orcas should be released into their natural environment to see a better shift in behavioral patterns and extend life. For example, if orcas are housed at Sea World, their tanks should be larger so they can move about their surroundings more freely instead of swimming in a confined area. Shows, sports, etc., should be the main sources of human pleasure, not these creatures. Why do we not comprehend that keeping orcas in captivity or keeping any other creatures in prison-like conditions will not benefit us but will instead cause us to feel grief and sympathy if we keep them in parks for an extended period? Numerous trainers at Sea World abandoned their employment and protested the marine park because of their mistreatment and the rising number of deaths among trainers and orcas. Orcas' amazing cognitive capacities demonstrate their autonomy and demonstrate that they are both independent and intellectually mature in the same manner as humans. Physical issues brought on by pressure are not present in nature because of the psychological strain of imprisonment. The profound mental abilities of the orca are disregarded by careless methods of confinement initiatives, placing both the creatures and individuals in danger. The alteration in orcas' behavior has sparked several animal rights demonstrations and the closure of many Sea World parks, while some marine parks continue to keep marine animals in captivity despite mounting public opposition. Therefore, the opposing arguments for the captivity of orcas are stronger because orcas should be freed into the wild instead of placed in marine preserves for the amusement of people. According to PETA, over 40 orcas have passed away at SeaWorld from illnesses like bacterial infections and skull fractures. Photo of killer whales and trainers during a shamu performance in Florida. David R. Tribble.

My eyes flooded with tears as I saw these helpless animals endure severe torture that should never happen to anyone. It was not the time for sobbing like a baby; I wouldn't even wish it upon my worst enemy. To shield helpless creatures from the cruelties of the world, something must be done The government should take swift action and enact legislation that would restrict the confinement of marine life since orcas are not physically and emotionally stable. To improve the chances of saving the animals, society must act on this issue on a global scale by limiting their attendance to theme parks that use animals as entertainment for people. The question remains, is it ethical to keep orcas captive for human entertainment? Should we take immediate action? Ultimately, we must act decisively by creating more organizations, sanctuaries, and fundraisers, to keep our species from existing in prison-like nature. We must stand up for the orcas and preserve them. Photo of orca in its natural habitat, hunting for their food. Andrew Reding. The alteration in orcas' behavior has sparked several animal rights demonstrations and the closure of many Sea World parks, while some marine parks continue to keep marine animals in captivity despite mounting public opposition. To improve the chances of saving the animals, society must act on this issue on a global scale by limiting their attendance to theme parks that use animals as entertainment for people.

Consider the Cuttlefish The mass death of one of the most important creatures. An unideal start to the morning left my head almost parallel to the ground as I slowly pricked my laptop open. My office was known to be of the bleak kind: a rotting black desk, a loud ticking clock, and a small cheap laptop with a screen so dim it distorts my eyesight. A lingering smell of coffee only topped this off as its warmth-inducing smell is a continuity with the average workplace. As I stared at my assignment on the harmful effects of human sewage on the environment, I immediately thought to myself, “how did I get here in the first place?” The first thing that came to my head was my hasty morning. I missed my alarm and was immediately greeted by a cat next to my window. It was a black cat with sharp green eyes. Startled, I jumped out of bed and rushed into the bathroom where I saw the time. Hastily brushing my teeth, I rushed out my door. A rush of glee must’ve been in my eye because I was immediately greeted by Mrs. Travis, a senior editor at my company. Her hobby must be torturing the people under her. After all, every time someone let alone smiles, she comes over right away to ensure that they are on task. Especially when it’s one of the careerruining ones that she likes to give. Luckily the other senior editor, Mrs. Henson, was standing there. She came behind Travis and tapped her on the back. In sharp desperation, Travis turned her head around and in a shaky tone greeted her. With a perplexed look on her face, Mrs. Henson looked past her head to see what I was working on and saw my journal. After a sharp yelp, she tells Mrs. Travis I will be reporting this and looks at me. With a kind smile, she tells me that she’s sorry about the actions of her workmate and gave me another assignment.T he rush of excitement that filled my skull was a new experience for me. To ensure that I got what I thought I did I repeated the topic inside of my head: The octopus. As I knew that this prompt would be a better use of my skillset, I decided to start brainstorming ideas promptly. However, to my disappointment, I realized that I know much less about that creature than I originally thought I did. Why? Well, I could not think of a single dilemma that exists around the animal from the top of my head. As in America, octopuses are not eaten as a meal, nor are they seen in many aquariums. Furthermore, I also realized that I have never seen or encountered the species in my lifespan. The joy that I once felt crept into a state of disbelief, as I realized that the information, I knew on this topic was scarce Picture of an octopus farm by Pixabay. “Of course, my gloomy mood had to be because I missed breakfast!”

Inside them, I saw Octopuses stuffed together, only having a distance from each other of 3 inches. These pictures demonstrated them being contained in quantities of 100, each being put in a plastic container that was restricting them from moving soundly. The placement of the containers created a factory for a living being. When did we get from mass- producing plastic to octopus’ meat? As a human, I felt extremely conflicted. We should have learned from the various mistakes of our past, but this proves that we are moving backward. The influx of events eventually made numerous questions arise inside my head. Are the benefits of our undertakings greater than the negative consequences? Are these consequences going to disrupt human society? What morally gives us the right to pursue the undertakings of octopus farming and octopus testing in the name of science? When I finally mustered the courage to take a deeper look into the assignment, I realized that the treatment of the octopus is a lot darker than the first imposed. Questions all congregated inside my head as I wondered why people would inflict pain on these creatures in the first place. To determine this, I dove into a search in google images. At first, I saw graphics that were either cartoonish drawings with silly faces made for children or carefully crafted artworks of a professional photographer; however, as I started to scroll down, horrific images started filling my screen. For example, I found a picture of a man eating an entire octopus. Its eyes stared at me, almost as if it was alive while a single content creator was getting ready to devour and waste the entire animal through the indulgence of gluttony. Each tentacle sat there in a sad state as the already dead creator was mourning through the screen. And of course, all I could see was happiness and sad regret on the face of the person devouring the octopus. In a state of anger, I decided to continue to scroll down to determine what other cruel acts are being dealt to this creature. When I finally mustered the courage to take a deeper look into the assignment, I realized that the treatment of the octopus is a lot darker than the first imposed. Questions all congregated inside my head as I wondered why people would inflict pain on these creatures in the first place. To determine this, I dove into a search in google images. At first, I saw graphics that were either cartoonish drawings with silly faces made for children or carefully crafted artworks of a professional photographer; however, as I started to scroll down, horrific images started filling my screen. For example, I found a picture of a man eating an entire octopus. Its eyes stared at me, almost as if it was alive while a single content creator was getting ready to devour and waste the entire animal through the indulgence of gluttony. Each tentacle sat there in a sad state as the already dead creator was mourning through the screen. And of course, all I could see was happiness and sad regret on the face of the person devouring the octopus. In a state of anger, I decided to continue to scroll down to determine what other cruel acts are being dealt to this creature. As my eyes scanned the screen, I saw images that I could only compare to that of a nazi concentration camp. Picture of dead octopus by Pixabay.

As my eyes scanned the screen, I saw images that I could only compare to that of a nazi concentration camp. each, I saw Octopuses stuffed together, only having a distance from each other of 3 inches. These pictures demonstrated them being contained in quantities of 100, each being put in a plastic container that was restricting them from moving soundly. The placement of the containers created a factory for a living being. When did we get from mass producing plastic to octopus’ meat? As a human, I felt extremely conflicted. We should have learned from the various mistakes of our past, but this proves that we are moving backward. The influx of events eventually made numerous questions arise inside my head. Are the benefits of our undertakings greater than the negative consequences? Are these consequences going to disrupt human society? What morally gives us the right to pursue the undertakings of octopus farming and octopus testing in the name of science? TTo begin with, they do not belong to the same class as a fish, but rather that squid, inside of the class. Cephalopoda. Furthermore, the common octopus, O. vulgaris, is commonly found in “holes of crevices along the rocky bottom.” They are experts at camouflage and can dramatically alter their skin textures, colors, and are known to stick to rocks on the surface of the sea, using “fleshy suckers that are capable of great holding power” Furthermore, they have complex brains and nervous systems like us humans. They can feel pain to the extent that we, as a species, do. Although octopuses have animalistic adaptations this proves that the animal is more human than we were, at first, led on to believe. Reading all this evidence begs the question, why would we want to attack these scholars? We have numerous food sources on the ground level and can more than sustain our population with minimal effort. However, as a developed more on my research, I realized why this is the case. People only really eat octopus because it’s different from other foods. They only want to eat the creature for the experience. Additionally, other cultures are bound to eat it as it’s something they have been doing for a while (“Octopus”). Overall, there are numerous reasons why individuals eat octopus, but an overall controversy has been formed over the development of many people eating the creature regularly. The strongest argument for the forced captivity of the octopus lies behind the theory of intelligence. Many individuals believe it is hard to define intelligence, let alone consider whether organisms have consciousness or not. They argue that there are over 71 definitions of intelligence, and since we are unsure about the subject ourselves, it is not our place to say that it is immoral to farm these animals. Furthermore, there is a lot of evidence that eating octopus is beneficial for the human body. To elaborate, the octopus contains vast amounts of omega 3, a mineral found in medicine. To determine this, I decided to delve into some research on the octopus. Picture of the Brain and its basic anatomy by unknown artist.

As a species, omega 3 is a crucial element to us because of its ability to unclog arteries and fight diseases like arthritis. Without it, the human species would not be where it is today. Although there are many sources of this mineral, many supporters of Octopus farming argue that the large amount of food generated by the indulgence of farming would only help us obtain more omega-3. They believe that the growing population would need this abundant number of omega-3 to sustain itself. Furthermore, they also argue that the money made from octopus farming cannot be ignored. To further explain, people that agree with the methods of octopus farming also argue that it is beneficial to farm these animals because it creates a positive impact on the growing economy. Because the octopus is an expensive meal and can be farmed in big numbers, the corporations that indulge in these practices generate massive amounts of money. Their idea is that this rapid influx of money caused by the selling of gourmet meals can only boost our economic infrastructure if we follow a rule of one growth cycle per year. Overall, these arguments make some valid points, as it highlights the massive amounts of benefit generated by farming these creatures; furthermore, it also highlights why these benefits are needed, and why octopi are not morally wrong to farm. However, proponents of Octopus farming disagree with every aspect of the pro-farming perspective. They believe that those who support the action ignore the fact that this practice is heavily harmful to our environment. To further explain, the constant farming of octopuses puts strain on the ocean because it releases phosphorus and nitrogen. These two chemicals are crucial because they cause a large influx of algae blooms. The blooms eventually would die off and their decomposition would lead to a dead zone, an event where the oxygen concentration in waters declines and many fish die off due to suffocation (Anderson). The rapid development of algae can also cause plants to die because they block the sunlight preventing photosynthesis. For example, 10.3 million Texas oyster landings decreased because of red tide. Furthermore, they believe that the strain on the ocean is only increased because of the Picture of fishoil (contains omega 3) by Fitnessrezepte.net Picture demonstrating an area affected by cultural euthrophication by Marko Vainu

abundance of fish needed to feed the copious amounts of octopus on the farms. Not only are we taking the octopus out of the ocean but also a plethora of fish, a mistake that could lead to the extinction of many species. Because of this evidence, those who are against octopus farming strongly assert that the benefits of the practice to the economy do not outweigh its negative impacts on the environment. They also assert that if we ignore the nature that surrounds us, it will eventually lead to it having a greater negative impact on the economy than if we were to not indulge in the act in the first place. Furthermore, it is also being argued that the pain the octopus feels and the adaptability they demonstrate are hard to ignore. Even though they may not be conscious they still have nervous systems comparable to our own. This indicates that they feel pain on the same level as us, making the captivity of the animal torturous. Additionally, they state that the animals demonstrate some form of emotional pain as well. They specify that octopuses have a sense of desperation in the state of captivity. They tend to become more aggressive and stressed. Although many believe that this is no big deal, to the people that argue against animal farming this is an important idea that demonstrates that the creature has some sense of consciousness. Furthermore, to them, it proves that because intelligence is hard to define, it’s better to be safe and not harm these animals. Ohe question of whether octopus farming is moral or immoral is ultimately based on a certain principle: can octopuses show the basic levels of intelligence? Based on the evidence presented, people who are for octopus farming demonstrate more merit for two reasons; they are more careful about the response to the situation and present the idea that research is to be done before we could partake in an activity that would harm a mass amount of these creatures. Furthermore, they also demonstrate a higher level of thinking than those who are for octopus farming. Those who are for it ignore the fact that it would eventually lead to the downfall of the environment and eventually kill their argument about the positive effect on the economy. Overall, those who are against octopus farming effectively were able to prove all of those who are for its arguments wrong. Nevertheless, the farming of octopuses is still a largely debatable topic that requires some more information to determine who is correct in this moral dilemma. Furthermore, it is impossible to prove either side wrong without scientific confirmation over whether octopuses are considered intelligent. verall, although many individuals consider octopus farming a necessity, we mustn't endorse it because it is sufficiently illogical and does not consider the many negative impacts it could have on the world. As a species with intelligence, it’s important to remember that we are not beings of power, and many of our actions have consequences on both the environment and our society. Picture demonstrating an octopus inside of its environment.by Karen

Many people are naive towards the danger effect zoos and tourism has on the elephant community. Holding stacks of papers, I started my day by printing out the latest draft of the August Magazine. A tired sigh left my mouth; I was not ready to begin my usual tasks of printing and delivering papers. Rang! My office phone rang through the silence, waking me from my boredom. Wiping the crust from my eyes, I stumbled towards the phone and answered it. I heard my manager, Senior Henson, on the other side, inviting me to her office. Oh great. Holding my second cup of coffee, I left the printer and marched toward her office, wondering what she wanted to tell me. There was never a silent moment while working at the National Geographic Headquarters, not even at 8 in the morning. This was something I learned when I was first employed months ago. As I knocked on the door, I was quickly ushered inside and greeted Senior Henson with a fake smile. The meeting ended as quickly as it started: she wanted me to do the monthly special on elephants for the August Magazine-- I was drunk on excitement. This was my first individual project, so I must do my best. If not, I will be stuck on printing duty again. Honestly, I was conflicted about how to start my project because I didn't want my report to sound like a genetic essay, just boring facts; I wanted to do something unique and different. Moreover, Manager Henson didn't give me any requirements to meet, so I had creative freedom. I decided to search for photos of elephants on Google Search for inspiration. My daughter shared my excitement with me, claiming elephants as her favorite animals last week, it was dolphins. She was ready to purchase the next release with her play money. Laughing, I carried her to bed and got my empty notebook out to brainstorm. Cruckled-up paper surrounded my whole desk as I pondered through my ideas. by Mai P Our Grey Friends Creator: Jan Marczona elephant in the wild Many of the pictures were lighthearted and positive, displaying the elephants in their grassy biome, living freely with their herd.

Searching through Google images of elephants, I received a variety of many. I saw pictures of giant grey elephants covered in their own version of suncream (mud). My smile brightened as I looked at the joyful pictures. I was happy to see such positive pictures aimed toward the elephants; however, this happiness quickly diminished as I continued to scroll down. One, in particular, was an elephant chained to a chuck of wood, tasked with tugging it up a steep mountain. It is not all surprisingly thought. It was being used as a living feller buncher machine. Elephants are muscular creatures, having more than 100,000 muscles in their trunk. With a physical skill like this, it is no wonder that humans love to use elephants- just a different type of love. My stomach twisted into knots as I kept scrolling. This was my first time hearing about this. Praying that the pictures would get better, I kept scrolling; they didn’t. My eyes were quickly drawn to an image of an elephant dressed entirely in golden jewelry at a circus; the gloomy elephant was balancing on a metal ball with its limbs, like a gymnast. Its once beautiful glossy skin was now replaced by wrinkly white scars. I could see the happy faces of the audience, a contrast to the sick elephant. I could feel their misery through my screen-- I was disgusted. Photo by Tom Driggers, American Circus My screen was covered with pictures of chained sick elephants lifting large logs between their muscular trucks. Lastly, elephants are treasured in the tourism industry in Asia, carrying people on their backs-- perhaps people have mistaken them for horses. I saw many pictures of elephants clothed with a brownish saddle, supporting multiple people on its back. I was sad to see the elephants being treated as commercial products. They are living beings, and they deserve to be treated as one. I learned a lot from a simple Google search.

Now, elephants are complex, intelligent creatures; do not let anybody tell you otherwise. There are two dominant elephant species known as the African Elephant (Loxodonta Africana) and the Asian Elephant (Elephas Maximus). The Asian Elephants divide into three subspecies: the Indian, Sumatran, and Sri Lanka Elephants. African Elephants include the African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta) and the African Bush Elephant (Loxodonta Africana) . Despite being from the same family, they all have different unique characteristics; for instance, African Elephants have wider ears and tusks than Asian Elephants. They prefer to live in forests and jungles, compared to the savannas. Elephants are way more complex than you think. However, many people fail to realize how emotional elephants are. They have a strong relationship with their herds, deeply caring for their cubs. They mourn their loved ones deeply, covering them with soil and rock; they stand guard over their bodies while gently touching them with their tusks. In a way, elephants behave in a somewhat similar way to humans. And so, an important question comes up: despite being so socially aware like humans, should elephants be in captivity for human entertainment? Should they live freely? Elephants are descendants of the extinct species mammoths and mastodons, two ancient species with similar tusk structures. They come from the Elephantine family and the Proboscidea order. A 2010 research study used mitochondrial genomes to discover that Asian Elephants contain similar DNA strands to mammoths millions of years ago. They evolved from mammoths and eventually into their subspecies; however, DNA testing has shown that mastodons are more related to the Mammutidae family. Therefore, elephants are like the modern-day version of mammoths who have straighter tusks. Like humans, elephants live a very social and intelligent life, with biologists claiming them to be one of the most intelligent animals. According to a peer review essay, elephants can use sticks to massage their skin, usually breaking it in halves to get the desired length. Photograph Pxfuel, wild elephants breaking sticks.

Proponents of anti-captivity argued that zoos have negative repercussions on elephants; zoos cannot maintain an elephant's well-being. In fact, studies have shown that captivity lowers a female elephant's life span by half of those living in the wild. Ross Clubb, a biologist for England’s Royal Organization for Preventing Brutality against Animal, would agree. According to him, zoo elephants only live up to an average of 17 years compared to wildlife elephants’ lifespan of 56 years. The mortality rate is high in zoos. Furthermore, zoos separate baby cubs from their mothers, damaging family connections and causing mental suffering; as stated before, elephants are very emotional creatures, so this separation is very harmful. Why are zoos allowed to separate families? While some pro-captivity proponents would argue that zoos inhabit captive elephants that are too injured to survive in the wild without assistance, most zoos do not have the necessities to inhabit an elephant properly. Elephants have unique social and behavioral factors, making it harder for zookeepers to look after them; for instance, they require a large enclosure to roam around in, but instead, they are restricted to compact space. According to a peer review essay, medical history collected from 69 zoos in North America has shown that approximately 50% of elephants suffer from foot pathology, with 68% suffering from musculoskeletal abnormalities. Furthermore, elephants are close to their families, especially their cubs; however, captive elephants in zoos live separately from their herds, with their cubs forcefully taken away. They will never see them again. Creator: Smithsonian's National Zoo Credit: Smithsonian Institution, elephant 's enclosure Rather than keeping injured elephants in zoos for entertainment, they should reside in rescue sanctuaries. Their enclosures are also usually concrete or compacted soil that can give elephants foot inflection.

Granted, proponents of pro-captivity do make some valid claims. The first claim is that it positively benefits the economy. Elephants provide people with new job opportunities and a way to earn a living. Locals in Asian countries like Thailand depend heavily on elephant tourism. It's incorporated into their economy. In 2018, Thailand's elephant tourism attracted over 38 million tourists, increasing their GPD by 21.6%. Without elephants, many people would struggle to earn money. Moreover, human entertainment, like zoos and circuses, is fundamental to regional economy. Despite the positives, it conflicts with the moral dilemma of imprisoning elephants. Due to captivity, there has been a significant decrease in the wildlife population. According to research, the population of African Elephants has decreased from 1.4 million to 400,000, with Asian Elephants dropping to 30,000. Elephants will soon join the list of extinct species if action is not taken. Furthermore, they claimed that elephants are one of the main attractions of zoos and that people come expecting to see them. Bob Jenkins, one of the directors at the San Francisco Zoo, can back this up; according to him, people always asked for the location of the elephants' enclosure or whether the elephants were coming back. People expect to see elephants at zoos. After looking at both sides, I will admit that there are many benefits to keeping elephants in captivity, like having more job opportunities; however, exploiting elephants for human needs is selfish and greedy. Elephants deserve to be treated with respect, especially since they have lived on Earth longer than humans have. Ultimately, zoos and elephant tourism must put more effort into managing their elephants to ensure their health. If not, they should liberate their elephants to sanctuaries where they can live safely. We must protect and treat our grey friends better. By Teamworkz, Elephant tourism in Thailand ,

End to Orca Captivity b y J a m e s U . Casual Morning Today I woke up to the smell of fresh coffee made by my beloved wife and I began the day sipping coffee and sifting through a plethora of emails as usual. Recently, I’ve been searching for countless hours to find a suitable job for me when I received an email from a fairly reputable person. The CEO of Henson Land, Susan Henson, known for her great collection of aquatic animals with an emphasis on orcas, offered to hire me as the director of their social media platforms to which I am posting this; however, I do not agree with the prolonged torture of any sentient creature before its death, and the orca is no exception. When I was little, my family went to SeaWorld, and we were amazed by the sight of orcas jumping and splashing around the water with their graceful jumps. Although the truth was far different from the portrayal, the horrible treatment of these animals behind the scenes gave me a sickening feeling in my stomach, why? I enjoyed going to these theme parks because I loved seeing exotic animals I couldn’t see elsewhere. As a kid, I would beg my parents to go anytime we could, and I usually bought a souvenir to bring back home. I still have a SeaWorld cup today with the whale logo plastered on it, but that unadulterated view, like many others, would change when realizing what kind of lives these whales live. I truly enjoyed the moments I spent with my family in this theme park where I saw the majestic Tilikum. I remember pressing my face against the glass containment with the biggest aquatic animal I’d ever seen right in front of me. I got to see the superficial beauty of wildlife in a non-wild habitat. If only I were young and naïve again. I got to pet the sting rays and view sharks through a large panel of glass. I still cherish the moment, but the closer I got to the truth, the more I realized the unjust nature of confinement of any of these aquatic animals, which in this case is the orca. Originally, I was going to accept the position because of the great pay, but I couldn’t accept the torture of animals being used as playthings for the entertainment of families. I have standards. I have researched the effects of captivity on these animals and concluded that we must no longer enslave these animals for our own amusement. Doing a quick Google search out of curiosity, I found multiple images of orcas from SeaWorld. Moreover, among these, I saw “trainers” standing on top of their heads, the degradation of their health made apparent by their teeth, and their confining tanks. This cannot stand. Their lives shouldn’t be played with like toys. I remember vaguely seeing the news of an orca killing its trainer, which I believed was sad and still is, yet I sympathize with the dolphin as well. It doesn’t know any better because it likely believed that it was just to play. We can’t hold captive an animal that was meant to be in the wild and force it to be docile. Stop The Torture of these sentient creatures I remember pressing my face against the glass containment with the biggest aquatic animal I’d ever seen right in front of me. Image of an orca behind containment glass from Wikimedia Commons ,CC BY-SA 3.0

Through my search of images on the internet, I see cases of dead orcas spread across the internet. Among the images, I saw an array of dead orcas washed on the shore covered in blood and wounds, yuck! Others I saw included orcas in containment that lie down dead on their backs even though they looked fine physically. These whales never belonged to an artificial environment with daily interaction with people, and it was irrational to keep them. Although many of the dead orcas were usually wild ones, their deaths were usually caused by pollution of their environments or natural deaths, which the former is another problem we humans create for them. Orcas in captivity, on the other hand, usually died prematurely compared to wild ones, yet these theme parks are too blind to realize the problem is containment itself when orcas die appearing unharmed. The copious amounts of mental stress placed on these animals daily by forcing them to do tricks and play around in a confined space where they can’t move freely causes instability. This makes orcas and other wildlife more susceptible to physical diseases, but these for-profit organizations don’t care. Virtually everyone knows what an orca is from either seeing or hearing about one, but what they know is purely surface level. Looking into their taxonomy, they are classified as Orcinus orca, Orcinus being their genus. They are listed as cetaceans, which are related to primates like humans in terms of intelligence in that they share subcortical neuroanatomy. Orcas are endangered large black and white patterned mammals that are native to ocean waters. They originate from the family of Delphinidae as they are the largest known dolphin species, which makes their name a misnomer because they aren’t whales: moreover, males range from 20 to 26 feet and females from 16 to 23 feet. They are found throughout the world’s oceans, but are most abundant in coastal waters around high longitudes. They are carnivorous animals that live in matrilineal packs, which is apparent since the maximum estimated male life expectancy is 60 years old, although it is usually much lower. Like wolf packs, they work together in groups called Pods of less than 40 orcas that live and eat together, but they live different lifestyles from their three differing variants. These species of Orcinus, specifically in the northern Pacific region, have three differing variants: resident, transient, and offshore. These nuanced features show that these social creatures are meant to live in the wild. Orcas reach sexual maturity around the age of 15, but the peaceful ones in Seaworld have not reached this age. Additionally, only around 55% of the orcas at SeaWorld have had no aggressive incidents, and among those, only nine total orcas were able to make it to at least early adulthood. Sexual maturity is needed for natural reproduction as with all animals, but the inability of the contained creatures shows that they are unfit for life in artificial containment. Their aggressive behaviors, which are most common in the sexually mature ones, show essential information on the nuances of orcas that we may not know. Moreover, it is not just a matter of their aggression, but the consecutive consequences of their lifestyle paired with an unnatural setting. They do not act as intended in their everyday lives because they are stripped of the norm created by living in the wild, which was originally instinctive in ocean waters. For instance, in the ocean, they live in a pod that hunts for their own food and even work together with other animals in the wild when foraging for fish or other wildlife to eat. They are born to be able to hunt and eat other animals themselves rather than being fed with the bare minimum interaction with their food. They lose the possible joy of hunting food and meeting other animals they can interact with. The fact is that people are not able to control an environment that can emulate the necessities of a home for orcas, and the integration into these controlled places heavily affects their mental fortitude. Further Research Image depicting a pod of orcas hunting in the wild from National Geographic

In summary, they are just extravagantly large sea dolphins that look like whales. They come from a long lineage of sea animals that are closely related to whales, dolphins, and porpoises. They are a particularly pleasant animal to look at due to their size and friendly attitude towards people; moreover, it is partially unfair to call them “killers” because they are not much different from other dolphins in terms of diet and lifestyle. They are carnivorous social animals that eat a variety of sea wildlife such as squid, seabirds, sea turtles, sea otters, etc. For decades, orcas have been the most enamored animals of theme parks such as SeaWorld along with scientific studies under similar conditions. The orca has been a fascinating animal to observe due to its extraordinary size and black-and-white patterns compared to other dolphin species. The friendly appearances of these animals deceive many child and adult audiences into believing that they are happy; likewise, their welcoming expressions draw in more viewers. These dolphins make up most of the profit in aquatic theme parks because of their popularity in media outlets. In addition, people from containment organizations like SeaWorld believe they are protecting these “endangered” animals. These containments do in fact provide the basic necessities that they need to survive, which also includes a pod of multiple orcas. This environment also allows for studying these creatures in an artificial habitat. For example, through unnatural confinement, SeaWorld Park had three fatal incidents with the orca Tilikum and humans. This emphasizes violent tendencies in containment and also suggests that this is a natural phenomenon in their lives, which could tie into intuitive similarities between wild and domesticated orcas. Furthermore, orcas are naturally difficult to study due to their usually migrant behavioral patterns, but in captivity, it is significantly easier to directly observe them. This would hence justify that the confines not only provide people with entertainment but also help the orcas themselves. However, orcas do not enjoy these prolonged experiences in captivity because of their difficulties adapting to these environments properly, even if they are born there. For example, orcas can feel pain as indicated by their brain-tobody ratio, which suggests that they have a complex nervous system. When trainers, as seen in Google images, stand on an orca’s back, they feel a type of pain that is immeasurable to us. The reality is that most people have a naiveté towards the pain and suffering experienced by orcas and other aquatic life. For example, many people do not know that they are creatures who experience two types of pain: physical, pain and sense of touch felt through their somatosensory perception; and emotional, the mourning of the deaths of friends and family. Thus, captors tend to injure these animals because of the ignorance of their specified needs. To demonstrate, confined animals have been studied in these man-made environments to have elevated stress levels, which are substantially higher than their wild variants. The animals certainly feel the mental stress placed on them when being forced to do tricks for their trainers or have biopsies taken for scientific reasons. The pent-up stress of these animals is surely the cause of their premature deaths under these living conditions. To illustrate this, orcas in captivity are known to be more susceptible to opportunistic diseases, which aren’t usual problems with most animals unless under stressful conditions, yet the primary cause of domesticated orca death is these usually harmless diseases. This makes it evident that there needs to be a change in the environment they are living in because disease should not be the natural cause of death in these animals. We do not know the requirements necessary for keeping an orca in such a place, but it is safe to assume that they were never meant to be placed in containment. It is clear that orcas are incapable of living by the current standards. This shows that the best course of action for them would be to leave them alone in the wild for two reasons: one, people do not want to learn the proper treatment of them through scientific studies; and two, they have their lives significantly shortened with current methods of containment. Ultimately, it is an unnecessary evil to keep orcas as a spectacle when they belong to the Ocean, therefore they should not be put in containment under any circumstances. A Single Consensus The pent-up stress of these animals is surely the cause of their premature deaths under these living conditions. ...they feel a type of pain that is immeasurable to us.

The Elephant in the Room The mass abuse of a massive species. by Vincent N. A cold drip of sweat trickled from my quivering brows. The assignment at hand had been the focus of my attention for weeks. My stomach growled; my eyes watered. When was the last time I ate or slept? The floor of my cozy cubicle has never looked more enticing. My editor-in-chief, Mrs. Henson, was offering me a chance for my big break, and I could not ruin it. Thoughts began floating in my head. Is this good enough? Was this important enough to stay here? The thought of elephants almost made me nauseous at this point. Recently, Time Magazine was seeking to raise awareness about the captivity of elephants and had made major strides in raising questions and changing public perception. They had managed to turn Shark Week into an “Elephant Era.” I was simply the finishing touch. My research began with merely an image search of the massive mammals. At first, it appeared that these beautiful giants of the planet roamed freely, whether in protected reserves or in the African wilderness. Being the largest mammals on Earth, elephants obviously needed land and space to live their lives. Images showed diverse species that inhabited a wide range of tropical and subtropical habitats on the African and Asian continents. Bright, vivid colors make these elephants appear peaceful, content with the lives they have been fortunate enough to live. Access to resources is plentiful, and their safety is guaranteed by the herds they live in together. Their happiness was even captured in the children’s stuffed animals. Soft, plush toys created a picturesque conclusion to the lives of elephants. However, upon second glance, images illustrate a much more sinister way of life for a disturbingly large portion of these animals. Caged in small, tight enclosures around the United States, these elephants reveal how the other half of the species’ lives. Links advertising zoos to find elephants became more prevalent the longer I scrolled. Posters broadcasting the latest and most exciting circuses in town plastered my search history. Announcements of the latest elephant births in hopes of attracting crowds filled my screens. In these images, elephants were nothing more than a source of income and wealth for those who confined them. Contrary to my initial search, these images showed dirty and crowded circuses where elephants were being subjected to intensive abuse in the name of human entertainment. It was clear there was a large societal nuance in the perception of elephants that were not being addressed. They formed a stark contrast with the happy elephants initially shown. Ever since I was a toddler, elephants have been familiar to me. These massive, gray, and smiling elephants had me marveling at picture books and art pages. As I grew older, I began learning more facts about these wonders of the planet. Wow! These giant mammals are the largest living land animals on Earth and weigh almost twice as much as a pickup truck! Thoughts began forming. If these animals were so giant and heavy, why did they not stomp around and rule Images illustrate a much more sinister way of life for a disturbingly large portion of these animals. by Robin Schwartz

by Brent Lewin ith that said, several fundamental considerations arise: is it permissible to employ animals to one's advantage? Is it ethical for humans to wield why did they not stomp around and rule the world as humans did? Why were humans not scared of elephants like we were tigers or lions? The answer to my questions soon became abundantly clear when I visited a zoo for the first time during my early adolescence. The end of sixth grade was fast approaching. The rowdy kids at a particular middle school were preparing for a class field trip to the Houston Zoo. Your assigned correspondent happened to be one of these rowdy kids and was excited to finally see these foreign creatures up close and personal. However, sentiments of curiosity and inquisitiveness turned into sorrow and melancholy. I had not stumbled upon the happy and smiling elephants in my infant years, nor the hostile and violent elephants I had expected in the latter years. Instead, the confines of the zoo held despondent and unhappy mammals, which I only recognized as my once beloved elephants due to the corroboration of the facts I had read once upon a time. order has largely died off, leaving only two species: the Elephas maximus and Loxodonta africana elephants, more commonly known as the Asian and African elephants, respectively. Speaking of their common names, the word elephant is derived from the Hebrew or Phoenician words for ox, aleph . Despite the sharing of names, ox and elephants have taxonomically nothing more in common besides their inclusion in the Mammalia class. Nevertheless, it is this same classification that defines the argument for elephant captivity. Due to their unique characteristics, elephants share very little with other mammals and even less with the animal kingdom as a whole. Being the last surviving family within their order, the elephants’ closest relatives have all gone extinct. Ironically, it is likely mammoths and mastodons were killed off due to overhunting by humans. Surprisingly, however, they may share more with humans than most animals. They require being cared for, just like humans. Furthermore, the relationship between a mother and her child is a characteristically human trait; likewise, elephants possess one of the strongest matriarchal relationships between a mother and her offspring. Like humans, elephants carry their offspring several months before giving birth. Once the calves are born, they are nursed with their mother’s milk for several months and are cared for several years before being old enough to live on their own. Psychologically, physically, and sociologically, elephants exhibit many traits that define what it is to be humane, a factor important to consider when determining the humanity of caging animals. This is especially highlighted in both the arguments for and against the captivity of elephants. However, sentiments of curiosity and inquisitiveness turned into sorrow and melancholy. e T lephant’s status as the largest living land animal with large, flapping ears and a long trunk. However, there are also many facts that few individuals realize. For instance, those aforementioned characteristics taxonomically designated the animals as belonging to the family Elephantidae, large mammals that are found roaming a diverse range of tropical and subtropical habitats throughout Africa and Asia. Looking beyond their family, one is able to identify the true prehistoric nature of elephants. As part of the order Proboscidea, elephants can trace their ancestry to the more aggressive mammoths and mastodons that originated in North Africa roughly 50-70 million years ago. Ever since, their hese very facts, however, are imperative when understanding the conditions these animals face. There are some facts everyone knows, like the W authority over animals? Is it moral to keep elephants in cages for human entertainment? Those who support the captivity of elephants claim it is beneficial for both elephants and humans. For instance, it is true that a certain degree of elephant captivity contributes to their conservation efforts. In California and certain other zoos, the captivity of elephants has been used to increase and stabilize the population of endangered elephants. While

in captivity, they are protected from predators, both animals and human poachers, while also having access to care and veterinarians. All of this allows elephants to reproduce in hopes of being reintroduced to the wild. It is also important to note the value of elephant captivity in terms of economics. Zoos and circuses, where elephants are held captive, generate billions of dollars for the US economy. Being held captive allows families, specifically kids, to marvel at the elephants from a safe space. This in turn generates ticket, merchandise, and even concession sales that can be used to either further humanitarian efforts or support the livelihoods of their workers. While flawed, their captivity does create a structure that attempts to protect elephants and supports many humans themselves. However, these arguments in favor fail to address the more emotional belief that elephant captivity is harmful and determinantal to the living conditions of elephants. In a particular study, elephants in zoos across the continental United States were swabbed and tested by researchers for diseases and bacteria. In return, they found multiple instances of arthritis and traces of mycoplasma, an uncommon bacterial infection. These alarming results were found to be the result of the cramped and unsanitary conditions of the elephants. As these animals are locked and caged in tight enclosures, they struggle to move or grow. As a result, they develop issues in their bones and respiratory systems, leading to arthritis. Scientists are also further evaluating the unhappiness of elephants in captivity. Behavioral patterns found in elephants are comparable to those of Holocaust victims with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with both species experiencing signs of psychological duress under captivity. These sociological associations illustrate just how similar elephant captivity is to human enslavement. And while zoos may contend their captivity helps increase the wild population, elephant deaths in captivity have equaled, or These alarming results were found to be the result of the cramped and unsanitary conditions of the elephants. often exceeded, births over the past two decades. Behavioral and psychological influences have also played a role in how many of these elephants die. Infanticide occurs when the offspring of an animal is killed by its own species. Elephant infanticide occurs at alarming rates. In fact, the infant mortality rate for confined elephants in North America is a shocking 35%. In a specific instance, a 6-to 9-month-old baby elephant at a wildlife sanctuary was found trampled and dead, with only elephant footprints found on the body. The captivity of elephants often leads to an increase in male aggression and even that of females, as they do not understand how to care for and nurture an offspring as a mother, something taught by other elephants in the wild. Another explanation for this shocking death can be attributed to the Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV), a herpes virus that is responsible for close to the most deaths in elephant captivity. This fatal disease occurs as zoos try to breed the elephants as much as possible in a short amount of time. The validity of elephant captivity becomes ever so much more incredulous when these same zoos that promise their well-being are unable to protect them. Arguments for elephant captivity do hold a strong point over the conservation and economic vitality of the elephants; however, these same arguments fail to address how the captivity of elephants is inhumane and unhealthy. While these opposing viewpoints could not be any more different, it may be possible to find a middle ground. By reaching a compromise, many ideas from both arguments could be achieved. For starters, the cages and chains that bound these elephants should be improved. It is obvious how dirty and unhealthy their environment is. As a result, steps should be taken to ameliorate their living conditions in captivity. Furthermore, elephant captivity itself can be reduced by addressing the root of the issue. The need to hold these animals captive would be greatly decreased if there was merely more effort to protect those already in the wild. Perhaps more of these funds raised in elephant captivity should be utilized for further conservation efforts. The validity of elephant captivity becomes ever so much more incredulous when these same zoos that promise their well-being are unable to protect them. U ltimately, the question of elephant captivity rests on one basic principle: the ability of their confinement to do more good than harm. It has been long overdue humanity puts more effort into ameliorating the living conditions confining animals such as the elephant. It has been long overdue humanity puts aside its selfish desires. It has been long overdue humanity stops ignoring the elephant in the room.

by Tammie M. Revealing the true lifestyle of the Orcinius Orca It was a hectic Monday morning in the National Geographic Magazine’s headquarters, people in business attire rummaged through their filing cabinets, shoes clanked throughout the offices, telephones rang nonstop, and printers spewed out what seemed like a million trees worth of paper. As I pivoted my neck around, studying the chaotic but brilliant environment that I surrounded myself in, I inhaled a rejuvenating breath of coffee aroma and got back to work. Looking at my bulletin board, I remembered that my Chief Editor, Susan Henson, proposed I write a captivating article about the life of orcas to save the company from a crisis of a tight paper market. When she had handed me the project this morning in my cubicle of chaos, her lips uttered “Use that gifted brain of yours and save this company.” Her request itched my brain as I stared at the bold red ink that spelled “PRIORITIZE” … oh how I love my job. Initially, this project appeared to be an attention grabber filled with interesting insights into the infamous Orcinus Orca and its brilliant marine mind. As I reminisced over a framed photo of my family at SeaWorld on my desk, I realized that I was the journalist who could (somewhat) save National Geographic Magazine from closing its doors. Growing up, I frequently went to the famous marine mammal theme park, SeaWorld, where tourists obsessed over Shamu and its live performances. The place where I used to call my second home slowly unveiled its dark secrets as I dug for every ounce of commentary I could use in order to execute an innovative article. As I was exploring the web for insightful information about orcas, my heart was filled with warmth when I saw pods of orcas swimming through the currents of the dark blue ocean. They seemed so free. I came across numerous items that made me gasp ... this cannot be real. My expectations of seeing people praise orcas in a joyous environment were cut short when I stumbled upon countless websites discussing the abuse of the slowly dying population of the killer whale. How ignorant can this society be? I could not wrap my mind around how people could justify treating living creatures in such a brutal way … this hurt my heart. It was passed midnight, I was the only one left at the headquarters and every time I dozed off, all I could see was the bright red blood smeared across the orca’s face. The six hours of research I had conducted on that Monday night, or should I say Tuesday morning, was crucial for my work; yet, I had gained a numbing feeling that didn’t go away. After understanding the situation of orcas, I began searching the internet for credible research articles and photographs about the lifestyle of orcas. At first, the search was bland, consisting of simple fun facts about their Delphinidae family at the genus and family level and their reproductive habits. Their family is shared with other toothed whales such as dolphins and pilot whales. The orca, or Orcinus Orca, is the world’s largest dolphin with bodies up to twenty-six feet long. Similar to Dolphins, orcas have a beak with teeth and a smooth head. Along with their physical features, both are carnivorous marine mammals that luckily are not interested in consuming humans … thank god for that. These human-friendly mammals live in the northeastern Pacific Ocean in small pods to protect their offspring and hunt for schooling fish. Along with their strategic swimming patterns, these marine mammals have the second largest brain in their Delphinidae family. Their memory and senses outsmart humans … which makes sense if you have a 15- pound brain. They seemed so free. Killing the Killer Whale Orcas being trained to preform for an audience. Photo by Wallpaper Flare

Surrounding their intelligent brain lies thick rubber-like flesh with a pure white and jet-black coloration. Learning about the natural history of orcas made me ponder if the rumors of their abusive lifestyle were still circling society. Soon after, I uncovered a few websites about the cruel living conditions that orcas experience for entertainment purposes … boy was I shocked. My smile faded, my eyes squinted, and I began to lean toward my brightly lit laptop which was at 12%. I was appalled by the uncomfortable amounts of cases where orcas experienced high amounts of stress and anxiety due to people crowding around them in aquariums filled with 10 tons of water. This endangered species is not only being used to attract tourists around the nation but also to feed the curiosity of scientists wondering about their adaptations. Actions speak louder than words. As my hand aggressively scrolled my mouse, I find that onethird of the orca population is being held captive on U.S. soil to be conducted as test subjects and performers. How can someone be so blind to not realize these innocent marine mammals are going extinct? And yet they still proceed to choke them with fishing nets that are the size of a football field. After collecting enormous amounts of data and information for my article, I realize that this is going to be a very controversial but attention-grabbing news flash that will knock society back into reality. The drastically split opinions about orcas in captivity left me astonished. Some advocated that it has benefited marine biology research greatly while others emphasized the harmful and cruel aspects of containing orcas in aquariums. the cruel aspects of containing orcas in a man-made habitat. There are many circumstances where orcas living in humanmade habitats are more beneficial. After examining photos of the environment of a typical orca in SeaWorld, a 250-acre theme park, I noticed that they live in pristine waters that have perfect temperatures and salinity levels. Their habitat, although unnatural, is more stably comfortable and safe compared to their home in the polluted Pacific Ocean. The aquatic entertainment industries provide a secure habitat for orcas to breed and train; therefore, they are healthier and more stable. While in captivity, orcas are kept with one another allowing them to socialize. However, if released into the wild, they would be forced into social isolation, which would lead to a decline in physical and mental health. Along with their seclusive environment, I learned that keeping them in aquariums has allowed scientists and marine biologists a chance to examine the aggressive mammals up close and be able to collect data to further improve their lifestyle. Likewise, researchers have been able to understand how a killer whale hunts, breeds, and swims which has benefited society’s understanding of one of the most powerful marine mammals in the world. Thus, after conducting enormous amounts of research, I learned that there are some scientific benefits when containing orcas in a man-made habitat. Apart from the hopeful information I dug out of the limited articles regarding the benefits of orca captivity, I noticed the significant weight of complaints that society has towards popular aquatic theme parks such as SeaWorld. The argument about the cruelty of holding orca’s captive caught my eye, especially since they have a scarce population. An orca in its natural habitat, the North Pacific Ocean. Photo by Wallpaper Flare

I was getting anxious about how decreasingly supported the orcas’ lifestyle has been and read that nearly one-fourth of orcas in the United States in captivity suffer from tooth damage due to them being contained in 10 millimeters acrylic tanks. Their 4-meter-wide mouth with 14 teeth is crucial to their hunting lifestyle and has been severely compromised by human actions. The appalling statistics struck a vivid but horrid picture in my head: the extinction of the killer whale. But how am I to stop it? These mammals might not be humans, but they do have moral rights. As they are being tested and paid to watch perform. Orcas are being stripped of their true marine animal lifestyle, in place of the entertainment and curiosity of humans. After educating myself about the ways humans treat orcas, I have concluded that it is highly unnecessary and should not be tolerated by society. It is inhumane to take these innocent animals from their habitat and force them to jump and swim around in an auditorium of aroused people. Having to compensate for their old life to please human interests should be banned; yet the United States still indulges in utilizing orcas as a tourist attraction… how disgusting. After I finished the tedious project, I submitted it to my Chief Editor and got high marks, thank god for that. The task I received at the beginning of the week was time-consuming but also very enlightening. While I hope to have changed peoples’ perspectives on killer whales, I simultaneously saved the National Geographic Magazine’s headquarters. When I had researched so much information that my contacts became dry, I realized how unsympathetic and cruel society can be towards marine mammals that are slowly becoming extinct. Ultimately, the question of “Is It Ethical to Keep Orcas in Captivity for Entertainment Purposes?” rests on one basic premise: the moral justice of innocent orcas. Society needs to understand the situation of orcas. As I said before, actions speak louder than words. For starters, captivity causes high amounts of stress and General Adaptation Syndrome since they are not able to swim freely like they once did. I was shocked by how abusive and curious humans can be when trying to train wild orcas into doing backflips. Because they are confined in a small space, these large and aggressive aquatic mammals act up upon innocent human trainers who were trained to perform with the orcas. While orcas have been circling a downgraded water environment for decades, they are not able to swim like they used to in the North Pacific Oceans. On top of that, while performing acrobatic tricks, orcas have limited time below the surface of the water which leads to lessening support of their dorsal fin, one that can grow up to 6.6 feet long, which is essential for their lifestyle. As scientists put it, captive orcas experience an increase in logging behavior which causes depression, anxiety, and immobility. Aside from their physical decline, humans captured killer whales and separated families; therefore, they become aggressive and feel attacked. I had weighing sympathy for these endangered creatures. It was time humanity learned a thing or two about common courtesy. Weighing out the mental and physical depletion of orcas, their cruel captivity is shown as inhumane and immoral. This project assigned by my Chief Editor, Susan Henson, has sparked how damaging the circumstances of keeping orcas in captivity are. Although people have justified it as being used as a benefit for science and research, I believe that these innocent mammals have suffered enough, and I hoped this project will advocate for them. Society, including myself, has underestimated the harmful effects that the imprisonment of killer whales experienced whether that be through forceful performances or just floating around in an aquarium. Actions speak louder than words. An orca thriving on the shores of a cold, fresh water environment. Photo by Flickr

Photograph of two orcas leaping from the ocean, photographer unknown. Freedom (Orca)ptivity Freedom (Orca)ptivity The unintentional destruction of the orca by Minie X. n a slow-paced Monday, 7:30 in the morning, at the Time Magazine’s headquarter, heads turn toward me as I trudge towards my desk. I had only been awake for thirty minutes. Voices ring around me as blurry figures begin to clear up. As I try to keep my eyes open and struggle to maintain control of my mind, I feel a warm, freshly printed packet land softly in front of me. Give me a break. The chemical tang of ink lingered in the air as I forced myself to look up. After trying for what felt like a decade, I see Senior Editor Susan Henson standing tall with a slight grin plastered on her face, what could she possibly be up to now… As I wonder what the contents of the packet entail, she briefly explains that she has chosen me to write a report on the modern ethical issues surrounding orcas! No way, right? This was going to be a challenge. Initially, this project seemed like common sense– those who hold animals captive are painted in a negative light. Marine life has been something my sister and I have been interested in since we were both children as we would sink our toes into soft, gold sand and pay the deep, sparkling waters a visit every summer. This project seemed like the perfect opportunity for me to show off my knowledge of ocean life to my sister, I bet you don’t know what’s coming, Anni. Coming into this assignment, I did not feel very pressured because as far as I was aware, there were not many controversies surrounding this topic. SeaWorld, located in San Antonio, was where my siblings and I got our first picture with an orca. There O they sold merchandise ranging from mugs to cute accessories such as hats and onesies. These once innocent objects marketed towards kids turned muddy once I dug deeper as the hidden, dark truth soon came to light. While browsing the web, I expected all the images to be of orcas flying out of the crystal-clear waters in their iconic crescent moon shape (like those found in cartoons or nature documentaries). To start off, I was pleased to see that my expectations had been met, but as I scrolled further, I was quite shocked to see them outside of the large body of salt water. Goggle Images provided me with numerous photographs of orcas on the seashore, lying on their side or performing shows at theme parks with large crowds. There was even one image of a trainer standing on the lips of the animal! ow cool is that! The deeper I dove, the more appalled I got. The photos of orcas in the wild expressed an ambiance that heavily contrasts those kept behind glass. As I searched further, more images of Killer Whales that roamed freely in the wild were pictured swimming alongside numerous companions in groups called pods. Their luscious leaps, followed by trails of disturbed water, adorned the air as they posed for the camera. While orca calves clung to their parents like their lives depended on it, those behind the glass swam alone or with another orca. In these images, orcas were captured performing midair 360s and jumping through bright colored rings in small, confined spaces. Because of these images, I became skeptical of how achievable it was to meet the needs They seemed freer.

the rest of the body is black, however; there is a patch of white behind each eye and one behind the dorsal fin. Furthermore, a cetacean is an aquatic mammal of the Cetacea order, including whales dolphins, and porpoises. A mammal is a vertebrate member of the Mammalia class consisting of a brain and hair, including animals such as the hippo. Surprisingly, unlike its name suggests, the Killer Whale, due to its size and taxonomy, is most related to the dolphin rather than a whale. Like most mammals, the orca is carnivorous, preying mostly on fish such as salmon. Occasionally, they will feed on animals such as whales, seals, and porpoises. hile I uncovered more information about cetaceans, countless questions strolled into mind: What do humans gain from confining orcas? What makes orca captivity a good thing? Should orcas be set free? Nothing made my mind boggle more than the final question: Should orcas be held in captivity for human curiosity? This question rang endlessly in my mind as I furthered my research. The often made point by proponents for holding in Photograph by David R. Tribble of two orcas performing with their trainers in a 2009 Shamu show at Seaworld in Orlando, Florida. W of large marine animals. or starters, everyone generally has a good understanding of what an orca looks like—It’s black and white, and lives in the ocean. Besides this, the public knows very little about the marine animal. Like us, they are extremely talented performers! Much like humans, they form strong, tight knit families that care for the sick or injured members. Taxonomically speaking, the Killer Whale or as many know, the orca, is a member of the mammalian family Delphinidae, making them a close relative to the beloved Dolphin. It is characterized by one dorsal fin on its back and a pair of pectoral fins, useful for steering to catch prey. There are factors that make this cetacean easy to distinguish from other members of its family: its contrasting colors and substantial size. The killer whale is considered the largest species in its family. While its belly is pearly white, F All jokes aside, orcas can pick up on skills very quickly as they are highly intelligent, emotive, and social creatures.

captivity for curiosity is that it also serves as a way to learn more about the endangered animal. Children and renowned researchers have the opportunity to gain more knowledge about the animal. This point is valid as we have grown to understand how they function and their interactions with other living beings. Furthermore, research has allowed companies like SeaWorld to accommodate changes to the environment necessary for the survival of orcas as they are listed as a nearly extinct species. For example, feeding them the necessary diet for survival and maintaining the right water temperature, aiding them in reproduction. Through this, the survival rate of orcas increases every fifteen years as a result of research. In fact, according to a peer-reviewed article, the average survival rate for orcas born in captivity rose from .941 in 2000 to .976 in 2015. Basically, this indicates that little by little, through research, humans are learning more about orcas and continuing to modify the living environment from captivity and exhibits such as SeaWorld. owever, those who argue in support for captivity due to research fail to recognize the tremendous changes in behavior from orcas in captivity to orcas in the wild. Those opposed to captivity argued that despite these positive results, it causes more harm than good. Because orcas are very smart creatures, they are emotionally and mentally aware that captivity poses a serious threat to their well beings. Big companies such as SeaWorld who take part in orca research must halt the capture of Killer Whales and other aquatic animals for entertainment because it adds addition, unneeded stress to the animals. According to data from 2016, Some signs of aggressions include pushing or pulling trainers into the water, and biting. While these signs appear as a direct result of captivity, it also demonstrates the immense power and intelligence of these apex predators of the sea. For example, Tilikum, an orca who suffered from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) killed up to 3 humans at his time at SeaWorld. This was a result from years of confinement and feeling like a prisoner, causing dangerous signs of aggression to trainers. Despite these signs, the company in charge of Tilikum—SeaWorld—did not take this case seriously and continued to show the orca off at shows. This is because orcas are aware of their emotions due to having a highly developed amygdala. The actions of Tilikum are evidence that orcas are too dangerous to keep under control. Not only do orcas deal with chronic, psychological stress, they also face physical strains because of inadequate care. Take Corky and her children as an example. She was forced to have upwards of seven pregnancies in just a span of 10 years; however, none of her babies survived more than a year. Because she was separated from her mother at such a young age, she was not able to obtain the skills to nurse, thus, leading to the failure to care for her own babies. As a result, like many of us, the loss of her babies took a dramatic toll on her mental and physical health. As of 2019, there are 60 orcas behind man made tanks, 56.7% of current orcas were born in captivity. In the face of drastic advancements in veterinary care and therapy, these cetaceans often succumb to death as a result of negligence. After learning more about this sea animal, I realized just how oblivious I had been prior to documenting this issue. But, following extensive consideration, I finally came up with an answer to the last question—should orcas be held in captivity for human curiosity? I believe that orcas should not be held captive due to the levels of stress— internally and externally—they will experience throughout their lifetime. Despite the reasons for their captivity being morally realistic, they should not be removed from their natural habitats in the first place as it causes greater damage to their survival if they were to be released back into the wild. Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinions; all I wish from you is to consider the orca. 45% of orcas held in captivity by SeaWorld have been involved in aggressive incidents. H

Not All That OctoMystic Journey Before even walking into the office, I could already hear the tiredness from my coworkers. The muffled clacking of their hands typing lazily on their keyboards. The sharp yet slow-paced tapping from their heels. The slurping from a cup of hot coffee because of these record low temperatures in New York. I’ve been working at Times Magazine for only five months, yet this still surprises me. I expected at least one day where at least one person would be upbeat in the morning, because unlike every one of my colleagues, I find mornings amazing, especially in New York. The crowds of New Yorkers on their way to work at six in the morning, the honking cars, and even the homeless man in front of my apartment who talks loudly to himself. I love it all. I sit down at my desk encased in red-inked papers and bright yellow sticky notes. As I look through my emails, I find one from my senior editor, Susan Henson, briefly explaining my new assignment: a project on octopuses. I frantically search for another email with more instructions, but I find none. I sigh. If there's anything I hate more than the cold, it would be vague instructions. The first step to every good article is some ideas, so I scoured Google Images with the key word simply being “octopus.” by Meghan T. I was scared to find horrifying images of giant octopuses grabbing onto the sides of ships with their massive tentacles, but thankfully, the very first few images are of regularly sized red sea creatures with eight legs and a bulbous head. Whew, there was only one head! They’re in action. Crawling along the bottom of the ocean floor atop colorful corals or bluish-tinted white sands. As I scroll further, I’m surprised to find tons more species. Originally, I thought there was only the standard red octopus, but there are also blue, orange, green, gray, and even pink! Its Not Just About Octopus Farming, Its the Morality Photo by Science Alert

anywhere from one to thirty-five pounds. Octopuses mainly feed on plankton, fish, and crustaceans, hence why they have a sharp beak tucked away under their tentacles that help them tear up flesh and break open shells. The word octopus comes from the Greek word októpus, which means “eight foot. “ The reason their heads are so massive is because of the mantle attached to the back of their heads, a round hollow structure that holds all their organs. They have three hearts. One of which mainly focuses on keeping circulation going, while the other two move blood past the octopuses' gills. To get away from predators, they can siphon water to jet away, almost like a speed boost in Mario Kart. They also have an ink sack, located under their digestive gland, that dispels an inky substance that will almost have a paralyzing effect on any predator if they get caught in it. Octopuses will mainly mate during the winter season. Where the female octopus will usually isolate herself for eight weeks as she tends to her 100,000 to 500,000 eggs. However, only one-third of the eggs will hatch, and the mother octopus will usually die shortly after the eggs hatch. Octopuses have a very short life span, ranging from twelve to twenty-four months. Although it varies from species to species, for example, the Northern Giant Pacific Octopus has a life span ranging from three to five years. Almost three times the amount of a normal octopus! There are some with different sized tentacles and heads, and some have lesser or extra limbs. As if they don’t already have enough! I see stylistic drawings of octopuses. Some have a cartoonish vibe, and some have such clearly defined details that it's almost like looking at the moon through a telescope. My Google scouring was going well beyond my expectations until I found images of octopuses hanging. Not hanging out like friends do but being hung by a flimsy stick on the beach. Their heads are placed upside down, and their own tentacles are being used to hold them up. Their suction cups protrude outward from being dried in the sun. My heart broke for these octopuses, which I hadn't even cared about before I did my Google search. It doesn’t matter; five minutes are enough to fall in love with these eight-limbed sea creatures! I found more horrific images of octopuses being stacked on top of each other, involuntarily being posed for YouTube mukbangs I have always eaten these sea creatures as a part of my Vietnamese culture, but I never made the connection that the creature on my plate is also the same creature that rests along the bottom of the sea or aquarium floor. I never considered how an animal makes the journey to my plate. I only think about how good it's going to taste. But without a protruding head and goat-like eyes staring back at me, I see grilled octopus tentacles drenched in a savory sauce as normal as a chicken wing. fter seeing these images, I’ve questioned my morals and plan to figure out if it's even ethical to eat an animal that might have just been rehabilitated at an aquarium. Octopuses are part of the phylum Mollusca, which also contains snails and squids. They’re identified within the class Cephalopoda with other invertebrates and the order Octopoda. They have their own Genus which they’re named after, Octopus. Each of their eight tentacles has two rows of powerful suckers, that sometimes have hooks hidden inside, and each sucker can lift Photo by Oceans Conservacy Diving Into The Octopus

Octopus farming is very similar to salmon farming. Both sea creatures are put into a floating sea net that is 25 meters wide and 15 meters deep, which is barely enough space for a creature used to the never-ending seas. Many octopuses are put into one small cage, but this goes against how octopuses are extremely solitary creatures. As a result, these octopuses will become aggressive toward each other. They live in terrible conditions. According to Marshall, a overfed by almost three times their weight to get the most value out of their meat, and these octopus farms will usually only have a 10-15 percent morality rate compared to 27 percent out in the wild. So, here’s the question, is it okay to farm octopuses just for the sake of human consumption? Except, what is the extent of “okay” in this context? Most of society believes that octopuses “don't feel pain” because they are under the impression that invertebrates don’t have the bones or nerve system to feel pain. Although it is true that octopuses are invertebrates and don’t have bones, they do, in fact, have nerves that feel pain, and many studies have shown that octopuses will actively avoid pain. For example, in Crook’s experiment, he put a 0.5% acetic acid solution into one chamber and a normal saltwater chamber next to it. He recorded that the octopuses would crawl into the saltwater chamber when they injected the acetic acid solution into the chamber's water, proving that octopuses do, in fact, feel pain and will try to avoid it when experiencing it. This harmful belief in the myth that octopuses aren't conscious beings has provided many reasons for overall abus e of octopuses; however, octopuses are in fact conscious beings and are one of the most intelligent animals on earth, being on par with elephants or gorillas. Octopuses do, in fact, feel pain, both emotionally and physically, so we need to stop believing that they don’t. But even if they didn’t feel pain, should that count as a valid excuse to stuff octopuses into small cages, especially when it goes against their nature? From most people’s—or at least Disney’s—view of an octopus personality, they are usually demonized and seen as evil: the villains. For instance, Ursala from The Little Mermaid, Dave from Penguins of Madagascar , and Hank from Finding Marlin. But octopuses are actually very intelligent and playful— almost like cats. They are known to recognize faces, bond with their trainers when in captivity, and attempt to escape when they get bored. For instance, Rambo, a female octopus at Kelly Tarlton’s Sea Life Aquarium in Auckland, New Zealand, is known for taking photos for her visitors. According to Mark Vette, Rambo’s trainer, it only took three attempts before she learned how to take photos, and he’s already planning on her next toy before she gets bored of the camera and attempts her great escape. Octopuses are able to solve difficult puzzles and will remember the answer to the puzzle when introduced back to it after months. Octopus is a staple in many foreign countries, especially in Asia and Europe. In Japan, octopus is a very common ingredient and appears in many of their most popular dishes such as sushi, karaage, and takoyaki. In Korea, octopus is sometimes eaten raw and seasoned while the tentacles still squirm around. In Greece, octopuses are often seen hanging in the sun from a rope. They are usually put in meze with ouzo beside it. In Spain, octopus is considered a local delicacy and served in pulper í as. Many of these countries have put octopus farming into action, even the United States. "The fact that three-fiths of an octopus' nuerons are not in thier brain, but in their arms, suggest that each arm has a minf of its own." - Sy Montgomery Photo by Creatures of The Deep

The point, or justification, of octopus farming is to alleviate fishing grounds and prevent the overfishing of octopuses. Except one of the many flaws in their argument is that octopus farming is detrimental to the ocean’s ecosystem because of the power needed to run an octopus farm. They would need to re-pump the water daily into an adjacent bay, and temperatures would also have to be closely monitored, but keeping that up for almost 30 octopuses per cage would use almost 8000 watts just for one cage. It is also redundant to prevent overfishing by farming, instead of killing two birds with one stone, they’re completely missing. Octopuses are not close to being endangered, yet. There are much better ways to solve the problem of overfishing, such as by strengthening animal laws for aquatic animals. Octopuses should be considered for more safety benefits under the American Animal Welfare Legislation. The United Kingdom is considering doing it, and many countries have already started recognizing octopuses as sentient beings, such as Norway, Austria, and Sweden. So why hasn’t America even considered it yet? We need to stop octopus farms. Not only for the sake of the octopuses but also for the sake of the ocean’s ecosystem entirely. Common Atlantic Octopus by Tampa Bay The Truth Behind Octopus Farming Photo by The Octopus Conservatory

Elephants: In this issue: Travel is the movement of people between relatively distant geographical locations Captive Giants Zoos and Circuses kill by Ganesh V. in the United Nations, swarms of world leaders hustle past each other with their agendas. It is 2:00 in the afternoon, and I am already exhausted from stress and projects overwhelming employees. As I begin to take a quick nap in my office, I feel more confined than a caged lion anticipating his performance in the zoo. On a dreary Sunday afternoon A photo of an ill elephant at the zoo by Akhtar Soomro. When I was on vacation to Raipur, a populous city in central India, at my aunt's house, my uncle pushed me to run his shop as a kid.What I didn't know was that a mahout brought his elephants to the streets every weekend to entertain people in exchange for food. At first, I was enchanted by the elephant, staring at its trunk and its magnificent size, but my uncle soon told me to feed the elephant as the mahout turned the enormous creature towards our shop. I reached for the sacks of potatoes and grabbed some in my hands, attempting to feed the elephant. However, I was unprepared for his trunk as it pushed me back while trying to get more potatoes. Outraged by this, the mahout whipped the elephant to move away from the shop, completely traumatizing me. Why have I not quit this job yet? My room is small, and there is barely enough space to work. To catch a good rest, I headed towards the restaurants where I met the chief humanitarian, Susan Henson. In midconversation, she assigned me a new article on elephant captivity... oh no, there goes my rest. At the start, I was baffled by the instantaneous project; with an assignment due in under a week, I had to complete this project in five days. Additionally, the assignment seemed absurd; I knew details about elephants and how human civilization affected them from my eleven years of experience in India.

I shouted for my uncle to stop this inhumane torture, but he just said, "It's the proper way to train an elephant." In despair, I ran back home promising myself to forget this incident. Since then, I attempted to ignore the experience but I still knew today that elephants were vital to African and Asian wildlife. The most important cause of its population loss globally was poaching, fragmentation, and intensive labor. However, due to the extensive time passed since I last saw an elephant, I searched the term "elephants" on Google. While scrolling through the internet, I was confident that I would only find illustrations of elephants being hunted or living merrily in the wild. Usually, there is only evidence of the two extremes, and I thought this was also true with elephants. I was close to being dissatisfied with the images before I even looked through Google. However, the slim 3.0 percent of all pictures made me reconsider my position. At first, my hypothesis was correct; almost all images consisted of elephants living merrily in the wild. One photo illustrated a baby elephant spraying his parents with gusts of water, illustrating the pure happiness they enjoyed. Cuddling with his peers, and fighting in the grass, the young elephants were enjoying their lives in the savannas. The parents stared with caution at the bright African horizon, watching for threats for their loved ones. The other group demonstrated the opposite extreme; I witnessed dead elephants and stacks of ivory collected for selfish purposes. Elephants' faces were deformed, leaving fatal scars and blood. Humans stood beside them as if they were prized possessions of victory. I was yet to find anything that changed my perspective on elephants in captivity... or were they even captive? It all changed when images of elephants in fences or indoor facilities popped up. Elephants were stuck to each other in confined spaces, leaving me astonished. I witnessed elephants kneeling to fit in their surroundings and leaning on the walls in their “homes.” There were fences through which elephants looked at visitors in the zoos, hoping through their sorrow-filled eyes that their new guests would emancipate their pains. Images of Elephants abused with a whip in a circus further complicated my hypothesis. A photo showing an elephant caged by Barry Robinson.

Immediately, I began wondering about the consequences of these limits. Can humans really be this immoral? Generally, everyone knows about the elephant. However, extremely few know about the scientific facts surrounding the massive organism. Taxonomically, they are part of the Mammalia class, which is part of the Elephantidae family, characterized by flat ears, columnar legs, and long trunks used in feeding and bathing. Mainly found in deserts, swamps, and highlands of Asia and Africa, elephants globally have significant differences. The family consists of three main species of elephants: Asian elephants, African savanna elephants, and African forest elephants. Moreover, elephants are herbivorous proboscidean mammals, sharing characteristics with the long-extinct mammoth and other subspecies of elephants. Like their ancestors, they are intelligent species who understand collective groups' and migrations' importance. They migrate thousands of miles each year to find the food and temperature they desire. When a colleague dies, they mourn their death and show signs when they experience stress and pain. Neurologically, elephants have about 257 billion neurons, 3 times more than humans; however, their cortices only have 2/3 the number of neurons humans possess. The point is that elephants are basically gigantic humans. A photo showing elephants mourning their colleagues' death by New York Times. According to a peer-reviewed article, like humans, elephants value their families, friends, and social circle. Both species have similar lifespans and neurological capabilities. Females and males live up to their late 40s and then experience an old age mortality increase, similar to humans. The brain weight of elephants at birth is 36% of their adult brain weight; In contrast, human babies have a brain weight of 26% at birth. They can communicate with their counterparts and identify threats. Their young ones are very dependent on them, just like how human children are dependent on their parents. As explained by Dame Daphne Sheldrick, a conservationist at David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, elephants also portray similar neurological behavior to humans. They display a sense of humor and competitiveness among their peers; individual characteristics of being adventurous, outgoing, and shy are also

evident in elephants. Like an average teenager, they also tend to bully each other. Even after these similarities, why, especially in developing countries in Africa and Asia, is the human-like elephant being tortured, confined, and even killed by humans? Is it morally and conditionally justified? Or is it the human selfishness that drives their actions? Should humans hold elephants captive for their entertainment and benefits? Ironically, the word elephant comes from the Greek word "elephas," which means ivory. Both genders in the African species have tusks made of ivory, while only the Asian male does in Asia. In third-world countries, proponents of elephant captivity counter the arguments that elephants should be free by reasoning that they are crucial for the national economy. They use the arguments of mutual benefits claiming that not only do the elephants help humans, but humans also aid elephants in their survival. Supporters argue that humans benefit considerably from their mutual "bond" with the elephants. Elephants increase tourism in Asian and African countries. According to Scientific America, a new report highlights that one elephant brings 23,000 dollars a year to the national economy and over 1.6 million in its lifetime. They attract Western tourists-- who indirectly spend more money in the country-- and provide jobs to poverty-ridden locals. These jobs are crucial for locals to survive and provide a source of entertainment for the middle-class public. For the benefit of the elephants, supporters of captivity use conservative ideologies that keeping elephants in zoos and other facilities ensures future survival. According to the Public Library of Science, some research shows that the intensively managed elephant population in zoos helps them regain their population and thrive as a species after being in human facilities. In zoos, elephants can breed easily, and use human technology like artificial insemination to their advantage. A photo showing the massive amount of ivory collected from the ivory trade by the Oregon Zoo.

Their survival chances can be enhanced with human involvement, benefitting the elephants. Artificial insemination can boost the breeding process and accelerate the crude birth rate of elephants. A photo showing an elephant overstressed and struggling in captivity by Elephant Voices. However, these arguments lack scientific evidence, and some research even counteracts these fraudulent claims. From a different perspective, supporters of elephant freedom take these supposed benefits of elephants' captivity and balance them with the violations of human values needed to achieve them. Elephants like other animals-- whales, pandas, orcas, monkies, and rhinos-- have been affected by captivity which is devastating to their natural personality. According to the environmental organization One Green Planet, in captivity, elephants suffer from various problems: obesity, arthritis, starvation and dehydration, sores, Tuberculosis, genetic defects, and Zoochosis-- extreme mental frustration from zoos. Captivity hinders an elephant's true personality and creates an artificial environment unfit for the elephant. Due to captivity, elephants get affected by general human diseases that interfere with their development. According to a survey of sixty-two Asian and five African Elephants, captive elephants exhibited "a high incident of rheumatoid diseases” and chronic arthritis due to captivity. Arthritis usually affects old humans, but due to human conditions imposed on elephants, they are also starting to develop the disease. Forced entertainment in circuses and zoos has also created foot problems in elephants that restrain their survival. Another moral problem that erupts with capturing elephants is the technique of separating the elephant babies from their parents to "train them." The mother is chained while the kid is taken away by "protectors," especially in circuses. This separation not only creates physical and psychological trauma for the child but also for the mother. This separation not only