1st Period Magazine

creates physical and psychological trauma for the child but also for the mother. According to extensive research, this separation is linked with creating a shorter lifespan for elephants in captivity; Elephants in the wild live up to eighty years old, while the ones captive lives to only forty. Since they are like humans, elephants also lack the attachment to their parents after this separation. According to the attachment theory by Bowlby, the attachment formed in childhood affects an individual throughout their life. Without this attachment, an organism would develop negative traits that hinder life expectancy and personality, something happening to the elephants. Overall, while it helps the economy, proponents of elephant captivity fail to recognize that their main argument, the one of benefits to elephants, is not scientifically significant. Zoos have contributed little to the conservation of African and Asian elephants since their introduction in those facilities. No evidence has been found that artificial insemination has helped the population growth of elephants, and captivity has decreased infant mortality. Elephants in zoos are dying faster than they could reproduce, leading to their predicted extinction in 2050. In fact, the number of wild Asian Elephants has already dropped to about 30,000 today from 500,000 in the 1970s. A photo showing how close elephants are to extinction by Active Wild Admin. This staggering rate shows that captivity has not done elephants any benefit, but maybe even made their conditions worse. Psychologically, according to a peer-reviewed article, in their new homes, elephants are mourning and showing visual signs of discomfort, similar to the ones when they lose their loved ones. No psychological torture of this kind could justify elephant captivity for human entertainment and benefits. Losing a loved one is one of the most troubling mental experiences, and if elephants experience this daily, nothing can justify its implementation. Therefore, arguments for elephant freedom are stronger, and elephants should not be captive but let into their natural habitats. Apart from psychological concerns, elephants are also tortured physically. Ironically, their purpose in human facilities is to be protected, but they are troubled by "animal lovers." Training elephants in circuses learn tricks after being treated with electric prods, whips, and bull hooks, which penetrate through their hides. Elephants are tied up with spiked chains for up

to 120 hours at a time, weakening their mental and physical health. They endure this torture only to be presented in front of an enthusiastic human audience that does little to aid them. This treatment without proper justification is against humanity's morals and values. A human's entertainment is not worth another animal's lifelong torture. To truly solve the issue of elephant survival without inciting attacks on human morals, humans must learn to aid elephants instead of using them for their benefit. Zoos must give elephants more space, imitate their natural habitat and remove human influence from their survival. Even more effective is if elephants are kept in a natural sanctuary instead of zoos which allows elephants more freedom and ultimately removes the questions over morality and elephant captivity. A photo of elephants in the wild show how happy they appear to be by One Green Planet. Humans must contribute to organizations regarding elephant welfare and form societies focusing on protecting elephants in the wild instead of human facilities. Individuals often forget one vital thing about themselves: instead of hoping for change that helps humanity and other species, they can be the change.

The Eight-Legged Farming Conflict Humanity's biggest ignorance: is farming octopuses ethical? Moreover, it was just the pre-imaged stereotype that I had expected in my head prior to researching, therefore it depraved my mind with more curiosity. While still on the first page, I noticed a portion of the pictures being what I had expected: its cuisine. One photo captured the amazing Pulpo A La Parrilla tacos cooking on the charcoal grill; another photo captured the beautiful plating and presentation. by Dean T. While I browsed the web for clarity on octopuses, I was shocked to see more than just a living octopus or its delicious dishes. Photo of dry octopus farming by PickPik On a dreary Monday morning, when the weekend is now a faded memory, I walk into work overwhelmed by the scent of coffee beans and printer ink. The hectic chaos of co-workers struggling to settle into their chairs and the loud sound of New York’s traffic at 9 A.M. only meant one thing: I’m in for another long week of work. Lately, the articles and headlines have been dry, and it’s only making me more tired and my work ethic more indolent, especially on a slow Monday morning. But today, my Senior Editor, Susan Henson, approached me with a big grin on her face. It was too early for this! She has challenged me to write an intriguing research paper on a distinctive conflict: the ethicality of farming octopus for human satisfaction. At first, I wasn’t fascinated. Upon further research, I progressively became more excited and curious. I could not wait to express my opinions on animal captivity as I am a proud owner of two. This complex article request intrigued me; moreover, I am totally ready to write about the serious dilemma regarding octopuses. At first, the consequences seemed trivial upon researching. As she walked away, I felt a pit of dismay. I was less than thrilled to tell my wife, an avid lover of Xtapodi, about the betrayal assignment Susan Henson has told me to write about. She won’t be too happy. I mean, how bad can the effects be? Octopuses are present in every aquatic gift shop and shockingly, restaurants. Plus, a restaurant’s menu usually consists of the animal’s entire family tree. However, soon I quickly realized how ingenuous my assumptions were.

“Are they capable of living in such small spaces?” After spending what was like an eternity on pictures of octopuses, I came across the beautiful diverse aqua ecosystem they live in. From the coral reefs to the pitch-black oceans, I noticed that octopuses live practically anywhere below the ocean. Their habitat seemed peaceful and elegant. Anyways, as I was scrolling through, I noticed that some octopuses were raised in farms and in small confinement. I was captivated as the images quickly unfolded from a huge ocean to a small bucket of water; moreover, I was concerned. My stomach turned upside down when I saw the farming techniques they used on octopuses. To help you visualize this, they were hung on a line like clothes with their heads chopped off. Cruel. I could not help but feel devastated and wondered how my wife would think of this. Her smile would turn upside down. Each picture to me represented a call for help from the octopuses. Today, I am answering their call by exposing the truth behind farming octopuses. I was infuriated by the end of my long shift. My curiosity regarding farming could carry me on for a few more light years if you ask. I spent prolonged, lengthy hours focused on my screen as if I was going to win the Texas Powerball. With a long stretch and short shave, I am ready to dive deep into the ocean to explore and find justice for my fellow cephalopods. To follow along with me on this long, yet beneficial journey, you must understand one thing: the basics of octopods. For practical purposes, I’m sure everyone knows what an octopus is. The usual eight tentacles and the big ole’ head is what they’re known for. As a matter of fact, they are so much more than that. A cartoon octopus stuck in aquarium billboard in New York captured by Flickr. Concerned was an understatement.

A close up picture of an octopus captured by PxFuel Octopuses are in the Octopodidae family and under the Octopoda order. They share a family with over 100 species. They vary from two inches to 18 feet and feed on mainly crabs and lobsters, whereas in captivity, they are fed little plankton to keep them alive. Like many other species of invertebrate, they do not have a backbone; however, the astounding octopus is the most intelligent out of them. Furthermore, it is individually innervated from the brain, making it have unique behavioral interactions. Octopuses are so much more than what we know them as. The core of the octopus’ brain stores all their knowledge and cognitive abilities, and it is homogenous to the human brain. Believe it or not, they are so complex that they can recognize humans as well as solving common problems. Although it is true that they are just googly sea creatures, they can experience pain and suffering.

Through all of this, society is provided with a major question: can octopuses be raised in captivity without causing them significant physical or psychological harm? Do the benefits outweigh the negatives? What’s the downside? Proponents of captivity farming argue it helps meet the current market demands for octopuses. With a small number of arguments, they argue that through captivity farming, the population of octopuses is controllable. This can include a regulated environment, reducing fishing methods, and keeping the octopuses away from parasites; however, captivity keeps them away from their original habitat: the ocean. Furthermore, they contend that several welfare measures have been proposed to be applied to meet regulations. It allows for socalled “more supervision” and more safety protocols. Granted, the arguments make some valid points about captivity farming as recent statistics show a more stable population amongst octopi while being caught and used for human consumption as well. According to a peer-reviewed article, farm-grown octopi have a 15% mortality rate while wild octopi have a 27% mortality rate. Basically, the point they want to assert is simple: human needs and wants automatically surpass sea creatures. If we can farm octopi efficiently, then we have the right to do so. However, proponents of traditional farming methods fail to recognize how octopuses are just like us humans. Octopuses are the most intelligent species alongside humans. Not only that, but they are also able to react and show their pain sensory. How would we feel? Its’ intelligence is proven through many research studies. Professor Jennifer Jacquet of New York University argues that farming octopuses and holding them in captivity would lead to an incline in deaths due to stress. Furthermore, captivating octopuses also ruin the ecosystem externally and internally. As a tier two prey and predator in the food chain octopuses are primarily responsible as regulators of the population of fishes and sea-insects as well as food for sharks. They provide a 3:1 component ratio which means they account for almost a third of the food chain and the interactions happening below the waters. Those who oppose captivity farming also argue the importance of maintaining sea-life diversity. To add on, captivity farming also provides another huge impactful issue: pollution. Through its factories and manmade ecosystems, the quality of air is heavily affected. To sum it up, many have recently come to believe that octopuses should share the same basic human rights granted to mankind. They are essential. An intelligent octopus is seen captured in cages by Eko

P H O T O S B Y P X F U E L O F A D E A D , D R I E D , O C T O P U S .

Why is it not ethical? The positive impacts of captivity farming are much worse than the negative impact they provide for our environment. "Octopus farming is unethical and a threat to the food chain" An example dish that's a result of what unethical farming leads to pictured by Wallpaper Flare. Ultimately, the question of farming octopuses’ rests on one basic principle: we need to treat the eight-legged humans how we want to be treated. In today’s society, the United States must follow the lead of other countries and ban captivity farming as octopuses display a great analogy to humans. For instance, although many argue that captivity farming allows humans to meet market demands, is it ethical to harm them just for human satisfaction? No. According to research by Marine Research Laboratories, captivity farming decreases the air quality of the surrounding area by 10-13%. The concept of speciesism should be disregarded as octopuses are able to feel exceptional pain when kept in a tight inhabitable habitat. An octopus’ intelligence should never be given up for “human” needs. It’s unethical. While captivity farming has its pros, its cons should not be disregarded.

oh no...Orcas b y A n t h o n y N . As the daunting golden light peered through the window office, indicating my approaching deadline, I rushed to finish my article from last night. When the clock hit 7 AM, I finally begin working on my big break piece, suck it Jim Craw, it is my time! The office starts filling up as I hear, “Hello! This is National Geographic; how can I help?” I crack my fingers and spin my chair a few times, just like the movies as a ponder. Hmmm…orcas, such a fascinating species, the higher up, Susan Henson, has entrusted me with the discussion of these species in trouble. I have been researching endlessly to prepare for this piece. I got this. As I slapped my face a few times to wake up, I began refreshing my memory again by searching for orcas. At first, I’m flooded by a sea of beautiful, majestic creatures. The sun's rays beamed through the water that the sleek black and white creatures have created. Photo of orca swimming in SeaWorld with a collapsed dorsal fin, Photographer John Gastaldo. However, I continue scrolling through images and my leg instantly starts fidgeting as I remember the horrors of what I saw. Hesitantly, I continued scrolling for what felt like hours, repeatedly seeing orcas constrained and restricted. These images show orcas with damaged teeth, decayed and hollow, which is a result of them biting on the dividing bars of the tanks. Their teeth are half the size of a healthy and wild orca which possesses sharp and white teeth. They highlight the standard black and white color but those in captivity had a duller palette. The areas of interest consisted of SeaWorld and multiple amusement parks where the tanks were dirty and too small to house an orca. Many are seen with intense scars, oozed-out blood, or physical injuries such as a collapsed dorsal fin. This made me sick knowing individuals valued entertainment over the well-being of these species. Forced to perform, cursed for life

Photo of trainer preforming with orca in SeaWorld, Photographer David R. Tribble. While I continued, my admiration soon turned bitter as I dove deeper into the depths of human greed for orcas. My stomach turned as I realized how my innocent trip to SeaWorld when I was nine, how oblivious, blinded me from the horrors of its effects. Instances on instances piled up as I continued searching, why…why would anyone support this? To better grasp the situation, I tried to understand what was so pleasing about the captivity of orcas. The innocent amusement park was praised as a family attraction, but in reality, it tore orcas from their own families in the wild. The pictures advertised by companies such as SeaWorld depicted a positive image by cherry-picking what was seen. This meant the use of high-quality photos to capture the attention of viewers along with vibrant colors. A similar tactic is used in our world seen in food advertisements as dishes are very vibrant and painted as appealing, but they are simply not that great. They were able to make the black and white-toned skin of orcas look less dull and more friendly. Of course, this would convince many to believe they are healthy and in good care but, the treatment is a lot worse which makes me scared of how far human greed goes. It even goes as far as taking candid photos of them intelligently putting on a show much like dolphins do. The intelligence is comparable to bottlenose dolphins as seen as they both perform. Orcas remain superior. However, both sophisticated species are still confined to the human world. However, both sophisticated species are still confined to the human world.

Photo of orcas performing a sophisticated hunting attack on a seal, Photographer Callan Carpenter Despite all these false depictions, they were changing, both physically and mentally, but humans continued to sacrifice them for the entertainment of people. However, when I found instances of problems linked to orcas like Dawn Brancheau, Keltie Byrne, and Daniel Dukes; the blame was on one side only…the orcas. Generally, the average family knows what a killer whale is, but its real name is Orcinus Orca. They fall into the marine family of Delphinidae which classifies its species as hairless, sleek, and possessing dorsal fins. They are the largest member of this family and are often comparable to the great white shark. However, the great white shark is not so great in the aspects of speed, weight, and longevity which the orca dominates. These species are strong carnivores as they use their high intelligence, fast agility, and efficient tactics. A tactic commonly used is the herding of fish like sheep and dogs and eventually, they whip them with their tails. Their deadly tactics gave them the name killer whales. It originated from a group of sailors that witnessed firsthand how they worked together to hunt significantly bigger species than them, specifically whales. Originally, the name was whale killer as sailors witnessed it, but the name later flipped to what it is commonly referred to now. While the name killer whale can be misleading to humans, more deaths have occurred at the hands of humans regarding them than the other way around. Unfortunately, orcas have fallen onto the endangered list despite their vast population in multiple oceans. One reason for this is the decrease in salmon populations, a significant source of food for orcas in the Northwest region. This combined with greedy individuals has put these orcas at risk, especially those big corporations that rather put the health of orcas under the entertainment of humans. They are the largest member of the Delphinidae family.

Regarding orca captivity, the strongest argument continues to be that it provides a haven for them. Some of these points are valid as a rise in environmental disasters and climate change affect them. While they are in captivity the water and conditions can be controlled and adjusted to the needs of the orcas. With these conditions, many believe that society gained the right to keep them from entertainment. Some even refer to it as mutually beneficial as humans provide sanctuary and they provide entertainment. The increase in disasters such as oil spills poses a threat to orcas as seen in the Exxon oil spill of 1989. It killed thousands of marine animals but 14 of the 36 orcas in a pod died leaving an irreversible problem. Considering this was still started by humans, it highlights how much mankind has negatively affected orcas directly and indirectly. An additional 22 of the Chugach Transient species of orcas passed leaving them virtually extinct. Only 7 species remain as no calves have been born since then which can take a toll on the genetic diversity of the whole population. While the industry for orca entertainment has become a staple in the world it does not void the fact that orcas should be free animals. Contrary to popular belief the captivity of orcas does not protect them as much as it does harm them. The supporters of orca captivity failed to see how orcas are changed both physically and mentally when contained in a tank that only stretches 100 to 140 feet wide. A multitude of problems appears when an orca is kept in captivity. The long-lasting effects of captivity mean they must remain trapped as they are unsuited to mesh into the wild again. They lack the social skills to be reintroduced into the wild. Photo of Exxon Oil Spill that devastated the sea life population like orcas, Photographer Craig Matkin Photo of orca pod captured in the wild, Photgrapher Heidi Pearson An additional 22 of the Chugach Transient species of orcas passed leaving them virtually extinct.

...killer whales kept in captivity have a twoand-a-half time higher death rate compared to wild ones. This is due to the hierarchy system seen in orca pods. Unlike in captivity, they fail to recognize this hierarchy. That’s just one of the many reasons it is difficult to reintroduce captured orcas. Some other issues consist of pneumonia, myocardial fibrosis, and chronic colitis. Keeping them in captivity separates them from their family which would induce constant stress and fear. In the wild orcas usually roam as a family much like we humans do. There were even cases where they were able to strategically lead away a group of predators by separating the males and females which somewhat mimics our lives. Also, much like humans, they develop psychological issues when kept in captivity for that long such as suicidal tendencies. They thrive in the wild as unlimited as the unlimited supply of swimming space keeps them healthy such as keeping their dorsal fins straight. So, while they have contributed to our economy, they deserve to live a laissez-faire life. To end, one question continues to puzzle our society about orcas: should they be free or used for our entertainment? The center of the argument is our orcas are on the same level as humans to be free. The answer is yes, they have an intelligence that allows them to adapt and hunt much like humans. Some orcas even use the tactic of swimming synchronized to create a powerful wave knocking their prey down. They clearly hold up to human standards, but humans only see them as money vessels. So, a compromise for this would be simple. First off, due to 99% of orcas having a collapsed dorsal fin in captivity compared to less than 1% in the wild, a larger area for orcas to reside in could be used. It is found that killer whales kept in captivity have a two-and-a-half times higher death rate compared to wild ones. Many sanctuaries use open pens in the ocean with a large perimeter. This would allow them to swim freely and in a straight path which keeps their fin upright. This could then be used as the area performance instead of a small 25 to 35-foot-deep concrete pool. This severely restricts them as they are used to diving 300 feet deep and swimming hundreds of miles a day. Photo of orca in captivity performing with trianer, Photographer Dave Campbell

Another need is to keep the orca families together as the stress of being separated has been documented before as they wail and express unusual behaviors. Some of these behaviors are biting on the bars which deteriorates their teeth or raking which is aggression between orcas to assert dominance by scratching others with their teeth. They often rake if they are not accepted which causes damage to their skin and mental health. These behaviors can drive an orca to harmful actions such as aggression towards trainers, other animals, and ultimately themselves. Some can compare this to human behavior as seen in devastating events such as school shootings in which an individual is mistreated to the point they lash out at others. It is wrong to recognize this in humans but make hypocritical claims when orcas display the same. It's important to foster healthy relationships as in captivity they have been forced to breed with each other causing premature deaths. This is never seen in the wild. The only solution is to exterminate the industry of keeping orcas captive. It is unnatural and harmful to what species deserve to live a free life just as much as we have fought for our freedom. Ultimately the question of whether orcas should be locked up for human entertainment relies on one basic principle: do they deserve human rights? Yes, they do. Now that you’ve read this, I hope it lingers on your mind every time you go to an animal park. So stop, now. The only solution is to exterminate the industry of keeping orcas captive. Photo of free orca leaping out of water in wild, Photographer Alex Ernster

The Vulnerable Tank The modern struggle of the rhino When I pushed through the mighty office doors this morning at 9:00, everything was hectic as usual: Papers were like missiles darting from desk to desk, the slave-like workers were scurrying around like ants, and Senior Editor, Susan Henson, observed them like a vulture waiting to eat at their throats for any slight inconvenience. The environment lingered with depression and suffering… why am I here? I began to stare off into space, while simultaneously questioning my existence for the fourth time this week. Suddenly, Susan Henson locked eyes with me and signaled to me from above to make the long trek to her office. Upon arrival, Ms. Henson greeted me with a stern voice. I was commanded to research and write a paper regarding rhinos in South Africa and negative externalities that threaten them. At first, I viewed the project at surface level, but after some persuasion I realized that the rhino in South Africa is worth looking into. Everyone knows of the enormous, gray beast with large muscles and armor; however, not everyone, including myself, knows about the vast number of problems the rhino faces when adapting to modern society and and its interests… Man, this is boring. When one visits South Africa, they will encounter rhino stuffed animals in gift shops and tours all about the rhino, but why do humans care so much about the rhino? I’ve never seen rhinos on the menu at even the most by Thomas M PHOTOGRAPH BY BRENT STIRTON, GETTY, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

luxurious restaurants I’ve been to, so humans must be wanting something more than meat from rhinos because the slaughter of this popular animal has pushed it to the brink of extinction. After I got past my laziness, I wondered what the internet thinks about the rhino. The information displayed on our technological devices plays a huge role in our perception of the world and its respective parts. To begin, I stumbled upon a variety of google images that can be grouped into two widely contrasting themes--hope and despair. The first image I came across was a young, healthy baby rhino being nurtured by its mother in a lush, immeasurable green grassland. After viewing this image I compare the rhino to my own human experiences and emotions such as love, relationships, and family. Sadly, my faith in the rhino’s longevity was immediately crushed after I scrolled down: Right in front of my eyes I saw the abuse rhinos experience. Feelings of despair rushed through my body as I saw a rhino with a wide-open gash where its horn used to be. Deep red blood was spewing out of the hellish wound and the rhino’s body language was the embodiment of pain. After observing more images I came across a rotting corpse that used to be a rhino. Maggots were eating at its brain, but every part of its body was untouched besides its head: the rhino was missing its horn. How did it lose its horn? After drawing connections from the suffering rhino to the hornless rhino, I concluded that poachers cut off the rhino’s horns and simply let it continue to live in agony until it eventually dies a slow, painful death. To understand why this great animal suffers I needed to analyze this species further. At a basic understanding, a rhinoceros is a stumpy, yet large animal that has developed a large horn at the tip of its head; however, there is much more to learn. Taxonomically speaking, the rhino is a mammal that is a member of the family rhinocerotidae, characterized by small eyes, thick skin, an elongated skull, and a stubby build. Many other species in this family have already gone extinct, and the rhino is on a similar course. The five remaining by Jim Tan on 14 October 2022

are the black, white, Indian, Javan, and Sumatran rhinos. The white and black rhinoceros are native to South Africa but are named differently based on their feeding habits. Both these rhinos are lacking teeth at the front of their mouth, so they rely on their lips to obtain food. Specifically, the white rhino has wide flat lips for grazing, while the black rhino has lengthy pointed lips for consuming foliage. Both rhinos are herbivores and have no natural predators besides humans. Now, I understand a what a rhino is from an anatomical perspective, so I must move on to a physiological perspective. The word rhinoceros is derived from ancient Greek and means nose horned. When rhinoceroses travel in herds they are called a crash. The closest relatives to the rhino are the widely known horse and zebra. These animals are scientifically known as perissodactyls or odd-toes ungulates. The name perissodactyl originates from a condition they share called mesaxonic, which is where their middle toe is larger than their other toes and a plane of symmetry goes through their middle toe. This complex structure of their toes allows weight to be distributed on one, two, or three toes instead of all five toes. Nearly all ungulates are herbivores, so they feed on leaves, fruits, seeds, sprouts, grass, and some aquatic plants. Despite their differences they share many human qualities: Rhino’s mate and give birth to their offspring. Rhinos reproduce every two to two and a half years with peak breeding season being from October through December in South Africa. Just like human mothers their gestation last many months and the mother rhino will gain an insane 150 pounds. Young rhinos stay with their mothers to be looked after and taught to survive like children. Until one of their siblings is born, the baby rhino will stay with its mother; consequently, this period of care can range from a typical three years to a more drastic 5 years. Rhinos are adult size by two years old; therefore, they are no longer vulnerable to predators looking for a meal.siblings is born, the baby rhino will stay with its mother; consequently, this period of care can range from a typical three years to a more drastic 5 years. Rhinos are adult size by two years old; therefore, they are no longer vulnerable to predators looking for a meal. by Christopher G. R. Bowden

The point is that South Africa’s economy is basically fully stimulated by tourists traveling there to see this incredible animal; therefore, its extinction will not only be a burden to the animal kingdom, but also mankind. As mentioned above, rhinos only reproduce every two years more or less; likewise, in South Africa a rhino is killed every 15 hours. If the murder of this animal continues at this alarming rate, then in the next 20 years the rhino will be permanently extinct; consequently, eighty percent of Africa’s income that manifests itself in the rhino tourism industry will disappear with the species. The removal of this species will also cause the African savannah to look extremely different: in addition to being emptier, the foliage that the rhinos consumed will become overgrown. by Monica Stoops Sadly, the only people who want the continuation of rhino deaths are those who seek the horn or benefit from the selling of the horn. Since the selling of the rhino horn is illegal, there is a high demand for it on the black market. This demand is triggered by the need for the rhino horn in many Asian countries, particularly China and Vietnam. In China, it is used in the fabrication of medicine that is traditional to Chinese culture. This medicine can be used to treat fever, gout, rheumatism, and other similar disorders. Though not supported by modern medicine, many Chinese citizens continue to uphold its use. Vietnam holds the greatest number of rhino horn consumers and shockingly an average horn can be sold for up to a quarter of a million dollars. If the rhino’s horn continues to hold value, people will continue to make a living off it through poaching. This poaching will lead to the permanent death of an amazing animal and the cruel industry that feeds off it. During the previous few decades, poaching was taken very lightly by the South African government, but more recently stricter legislation and policies have been put into action. The sad part is that poachers have begun to get so desperate that they are hunting rhinos in National Parks that are meant to protect them. In 2021, there was a record 189 arrests related

related to poaching activities, but the 451 rhino deaths in 2021 undermines this. Most of the poaching is occurring in Kruger National Park where 209 rhinos were murdered for their horns. The Kruger National Park's increased antipoaching efforts are responsible for the rhino poaching epidemic's gradual decline. The police's endangered species unit and the SANParks environmental crimes inspectorate have a close working partnership that has led to more arrests and convictions. Now that the government has cracked down poaching in their own National Parks, poachers are turning to private pieces of land to acquire the horn. For private owners to ensure their animals’ survival, they are dehorning them to deter poachers. As a global society, we must take preventative measures to preserve this beast for future generations to witness and enjoy. There are three ways in which poaching can be prevented. First, we can remove rhino horns as a preemptive measure. by Simon Morgan This will be done through park rangers tranquilizing a specified rhino and harmlessly removing the horn before poachers can get to the rhino and kill it to obtain its horn. Second, a procedure that fuses the horn of living rhinos with pink dye and a liquid that kills ticks can be enacted. The liquid that kills ticks is nontoxic and beneficial to the rhino but can lead to severe symptoms in humans like nausea, stomach ache, or convulsions when consumed. The limitation to this option is that not enough research has been done to see if animals who would naturally eat a dead rhino would be harmed. Finally, advanced science has allowed us to manufacture an artificial rhino horn. This horn will have the same effect as the natural rhino horn and will be untraceable. Bioengineering desired parts of nearly other nearly extinct animals could be the future of conservation strategies. To sum it up, the problem surrounding the poaching of rhinos is derived from greed and carelessness of humans. To prevent the creation of future poachers, humans must continue to educate young individuals on the maintenance and management of threatened species. We must end rhino poaching inSouthAfrica.

By Naiza M. Is it ethical to keep orcas in captivity for entertainment purposes? It was a gloomy and rather slow Saturday morning. After a long week’s work as an editor for the Houston Chronicle, I was completely exhausted and wanted to stay as far away from my laptop as possible. But then I hear the most gut-wrenching sound: a notification from my email inbox. Ugh, what do they want now? Do I dare get out of the comfort of my luxurious bed that feels like a warm, fluffy cloud, or do I fulfill my duties as an editor and actually be able to receive my paycheck for the week? I know that life is full of unwanted decisions, but sometimes one just has to take a little break and…. DING! It was my boss this time. I turn my head ever so slowly to look at the glaring clock on my bedside table; it was merely 7:40 in the morning. My inbox hasn’t blown up this much ever since I canceled my Sephora subscription, this must be important. I mean, what am I supposed to even write about regarding this topic, especially on such short notice? And not to mention during my one day off! As I contemplated on what I should write for this quick piece, I conjured numerous ideas that I believe should have increased awareness and be addressed to the general public. I could write about how many orcas are kept in captivity in the US and made to live in unfavorable conditions just to amuse adults and children who only care about Finding Nemo’s marine characters. Or I could even write about how SeaWorld's renowned Shamu is portrayed as a dangerous beast that poses a threat to human life since she has been responsible for numerous accidents. Do our people truly understand that the only cause of this is the orca's suffering and lack of basic treatment and freedom? With all of these ideas flowing through my head faster than Shamu making it flood in the splash zone, I quickly jot them down in my journal and start my research. As I sluggishly got out of my bed and tread towards my desk where the devilish device lay calling my name, I swiftly open my email and am instantly hit with shock and confusion. My boss, the one and only Susan Henson, and some of my colleagues had spam emailed me, saying that I needed to write an urgent piece about the mistreatment of orcas for entertainment purposes in the United States. Out of all the times to write about the dysfunctionality of humankind, they decide to put me to the task now? Unbelievable! Save Shamu's Siblings I first headed to the one thing everyone turns to when in need of a quick diagnosis when the slightest symptoms of “covid” kick in: Google. I simply type in the one key word regarding my topic and over a million different sources pop up; God bless Larry Page and Sergey Brin for this educational piece of heaven. However, when I searched up “orcas,” I was more disappointed than satisfied, something that happens ever so rarely. As I endlessly scrolled through Google Images, I couldn’t help but notice how happy the orcas looked. They can be seen swimming freely in the vast open waters with an abundance of food and in the presence of their family members with a genuine expression of peace and happiness on their faces. They are free. This is how an orca should be looking like no matter what, for this is the way people portray them in their natural habitat. However, there is a much more sinister twist to the lives of many of the orcas displayed in these pictures, but the media decides not to bring it to light. Not once is there a picture seen in Google Images of orcas being mistreated, abused, and brutalized even though it happens more often than one would think, especially in the marine animal entertainment industries. It is the sad truth behind the life of an orca as most of them do end up being captured and contained for the rest of their lives; training to become a star that they didn’t want to be in the first place. Google Images would never put up a picture like that now, would they? Photo of a young resident killer whale chasing a chinook salmon in the Salish Sea near San Juan Island, Washington by Oregon State University. Photo of an orca, or killer whale, swimming in a large tank by Dennis Jarvis

The Orcinus Orca. I love the way those words roll off the tongue. This is the classifying species name for these marine mammals. As the largest member of the dolphin family (otherwise known as Delphinidae), orcas are easy to recognize due to their size and vibrant coloration. With a white patch below each eye, one running along each flank, and a variable "saddle patch" right behind the dorsal fin, this mammal is completely white below and jet black on top. They are also cetaceans, members of an entirely aquatic group of mammals and commonly compared to whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Females are somewhat shorter than males, measuring 16 to 23 feet compared to 20 to 26 feet for males; meanwhile, a calf’s length at birth is around 8 feet. Both the dorsal and pectoral fins of orcas are quite big and rounded, with males having larger fins than females. As if their size isn’t intimidating enough, orcas have up to 14 teeth, each measuring between 10 and 14 inches, on either side of their mouths. Despite the luxurious life that orcas are perceived to live within the great big oceans, which act as both their homes and playgrounds, there is a more malicious turn to much of the orca population. The unconventional tradition of capturing orcas and holding them in captivity has been an ongoing dilemma within the United States. It has been criticized on numerous accounts by animal rights activists, marine biologists, and even former trainers that witnessed the torture orcas had endured. Nonetheless, they don’t only go by these sugar-coated names given to them taxonomically; there is a much darker secret that they hold behind those lovable dorsal fins. Orcas are well-known as killer whales. As one of the most powerful carnivores in the ocean, killer whales are known for their ferocity and intelligence when it comes to the hunt for food and shelter. They are believed to eat mostly fish, like salmon, or other schooling fish. In order to forage for their vulnerable yet sly prey, killer whales rely on their matrilineal groups called pods. These magnificent beasts are born and raised in these pods and always travel together to intimidate their prey or other creatures lurking beneath the waters. But how do killer whales know where their pod is located while hunting, one might ask? The answer to this is quite simple: echolocation. Killer whales also utilize echolocation to communicate properly and know where to find prey or each other during feeding times. Orcas in specific pods tend to share certain signals through echolocation; indicating that they are part of the same pod, and those who don’t associate, or travel together emit different signals or responses. Surprisingly, there are arguments that defend the use of orcas for entertainment purposes that completely undermine the fact that these highly intelligent mammals are being abused and led into endangerment. These arguments for using orcas and holding them in captivity may include many vast, but strongly held opinions. One opinion includes how orcas have been used in the industry countless times and they contribute a large part of how much money marine animal entertainment industries make on a day-to-day basis. This is demonstrated by the fact that individuals frequently visit aquariums and theme parks like SeaWorld in pursuit of enjoyment that exceeds what they can get in their regular daily routines. Orcas are trained to be the most entertaining attraction that people will pay good money for and that’s how industries keep running and growing. Even the high-class trainers are said to “take good care” of the orcas when training for the mammals to actually comply to specific commands. Nonetheless, proponents of using and exploiting orcas failed to recognize the overall well-being of these sea mammals. Arguments that are against the use and captivity of orcas take on a more ethical and moral approach as it considers the fact that these creatures are being depleted from the freedom and rights all beings deserve. After all, conserving the biodiversity within marine habitats and certain species’ is necessary for maintaining an ecosystem’s functionality. One of the primary arguments is the stress and trauma that orcas experience within the confined spaces they are locked into post-capture. They often display abnormal behaviors like repetitive movement, self-harm, and aggression toward other whales, animals, or even humans. Resulting from the physical and mental stress caused by the small enclosures and lack of stimulation, they clearly aren’t meant to be put up for display by merely doing basic flips or tricks to pry out some “oohs” and “aahs” from a demanding audience. And not to mention the horrid training methods that are utilized when orcas are being trained to do such tricks. Those methods may involve food deprivation, isolation, and even punishment for not complying or responding to demands. This has led to several high-profile incidents where captive orcas have attacked their trainers or other animals, highlighting the true dangers of keeping these intelligent mammals in captivity. On top of that, the lifespan for captive orcas is much shorter than the ones who live freely in their natural habitat, with most dying before the age of twenty-five. Overall, orcas do not belong in small enclosures that are put up for show for mere investments and amusement, they deserve freedom. The freedom that they have always been accustomed to since birth. The Orcinus Orca How industries keep running and growing The true dangers Photo of orcas pausing at the SeaWorld show for the crowd at San Diego, California, USA by Leon7 Photo of two orca whales jumping out of the surface of the water by Wallpaper Flare

What is my take on this? Disgust. Absolute disgust. It is sickening to learn that innocent creatures like orcas have been exploited, used, and abused for decades now. I believe that the arguments for using and capturing orcas have more negative impacts on the creature’s well-being that far outweigh any potential benefits. Especially when considering the fact that whales can be “laundered” between countries that are so desperate for some source of entertainment that they purposefully risk the extant rates of such intelligent creatures. Therefore, I feel that arguing against the captivity of orcas is the more persuasive and overall conscientious approach to handling this situation. Moreover, it is crucial for the United States to ban the use and captivity of orcas since it has become a great dilemma regarding animal rights and ethical morals. There have been many cases in which orcas are seen jumping out of enclosures, ramming their bodies along the walls, and acting vicious or violent toward their trainers. These can all be justified for one crucial reason: freedom. Orcas are accustomed to large, open waters in which they can freely swim, play, and hunt for their desired foods. They deserve this freedom and right just like how humans within the United States already have basic human rights. It is completely unethical and inhumane to strip away the mammal’s natural rights, and it should be protected at all costs. Ultimately, the question of whether or not orcas should be held captive and used for entertainment purposes rests on one basic principle: orcas deserve their freedom. Photo of Trua, a 5 year old orca, who is held in a marine life enclosure at Seaworld, Orlando by Gordon2448.

Orca-strated Abuse b y C r y s t a l N . It’s a normal day at the office… a little too normal. I was sitting at my desk and doing the Wordle. It was just a bit too... q-word. Something had to have been plotting in the deep minds of Susan Henson (that’s my boss). Someone busts through the door of my office and guess who it is. It was my boss. “I’ve got the perfect assignment for you”, she said excitedly. This couldn’t be good. “Your job is to write about orcas and if they should be held in captivity for human entertainment”, she said quickly and left. I spoke too soon with the qword. I lay in the queen-sized bed, bored. Flashback to the heatwave during the summer and school just got out. I didn’t have any actual entertainment for myself, the best thing I had was the big screen TV in the living room that I’d share with my siblings. I was eating my scrambled eggs and toast until I heard something. The one thing that made all three of my siblings dash out of their rooms was our favorite show. “Octonauts to the HQ!”, says Captain Barnacles. I had the cartoon The Octonauts, and I was about to go on an adventure with my favorite sea crew. I remember tapping the screen when I saw Kwazzi the cat tap on the TV screen to get his attention. Captain Barnacles calls a team meeting to discuss the orcas running into their ship. But they wondered even more... what were they? Kwazzi insists on a race between him and an orca where he wins but the orca is stranded. The crew works together with crabs to move the orca off the shore. I cheered for them, “Yipee!” They saved the orca and were able to go back to their ship! My siblings and I cheered. I aspired to be just like the Octonauts, they were saving animals and befriending them. It made me wonder. Do people do this in real life? I remember asking my mom if I could work in a submarine to be just like the Octonauts. Why Orcas Shouldn't be in Captivity Orca in the wild taken by Kenai Fjords National Park

My siblings and I would assign roles for our own crew. My older sister was Tweak the Bunny, and my brother was Kwazzi the Cat. I was Peso the Penguin, the medic, and he’d help save the animals when they were injured. My role models were the entertainers at Sea World. They’d feed their orcas and have fun with them while acting as though they were their child. I wanted to help save animals and have fun, I worried that the animals may get hurt too much. I thought, do orcas get hurt a lot? It seemed like such a vague question. Orcas being SeaWorld’s stars of the show, they are the smartest and largest members of the dolphin family also known as the Delphinidae family. Their signature black and white pattern stands out to almost everyone as if they were the colors of the Avengers. Another name for them being Orcinus Orcas. The largest known orca male obtaining a length of about 32 feet and the weight of 9800 kilograms which is about 21,000 pounds. Did you know the largest weight a horse has obtained was 2200 pounds? An orca weighs about 9 and a half horses! Females can reach about only 27 feet in length. 11% of female’s body length is from their flippers, while 20% of the male’s body length is contributed from the flippers. Their skulls are a meter or more in size because they hold the largest dolphin brain! They’re basically humans but bigger and better swimmers and even emotionally smarter! The rising issue of captivity of orcas has been reaching more people since the 21st century. SeaWorld is infamous for its exhibits and showcases of marine life. The show put on during business hours shows everyone bright and beauty, but no one wonders about what happens behind the curtain. Or in this case, in closed shores (haha). The overarching biggest question about this is what happens to orcas while in captivity? Is it beneficial? "I never grasped the reality of how my question had a deeper answer. " Eventually, this dream faded out of my hands, and I forgot about it. I forgot this dream but realized the reality of what goes on behind all the tricks and flips. The tricks had tricked me into thinking what Sea World has, was a reality. Realistically, I had been living in a dream that hid me from reality. I never thought people would be so careless towards animals. But sometimes you either trick or get tricked. I was tricked. I scrolled through my phone for some kind of inspiration for this writing piece. Boring. Boring, and boring. What did my boss possibly expect me to write when all I see in Google is about SeaWorld? I feel like I’m in Mission Impossible. I must find the secret documents and hack into the mainframe. My mainframe was Google Images, and the code was orcas. I continue scrolling and look for some kind of inspiration. Animals, plushies, floaties, SeaWorld. What can I write to show how people think before and after actual realization of real-world issues? I never thought about climate change and pollution until I was in middle school. I used to think global warming just meant the earth was getting warmer when it's way more complicated than that. SeaWorld! That’s it! My favorite show used to be this cartoon and it made me want to go to SeaWorld, but I never did. SeaWorld is known for their orcas and their shows with them. Photo of orca in SeaWorld by unknown photographer

Many concerns have emerged over time and raise the question of: Should orcas be held in captivity for human entertainment purposes? While those in favor of holding Orcas in captivity make some valid points, the case against this is much stronger. Another argument opponents may believe is how it can benefit the economy of SeaWorld with the amount of people who are going to see orcas. There has been a rising demand in interacting with marine life and SeaWorld’s the #1 go to place. With increasing demand, this increases the amount of money people invest in tickets. Building off this, it becomes a learning opportunity for many adolescents. Everyone’s neurological functions are different, and this includes how people learn. Many people “stick to the book” while others require visuals and interaction. The best option for these kinds of people is having up close experiences. SeaWorld is a prime learning experience for many adolescents who can’t sit still. It’s beneficial to our economy and to the future generations when it comes to learning. However, many of these beliefs are often deceived. Yes, we’ve become technologically advanced enough to sustain other life forms, but it doesn’t mean we should. Orcas require large spaces to live and can adapt to their environments. Why contain them in small spaces for entertainment? When it comes to laws being put in place to protect these animals, they’re oftentimes deceived scientifically. Laws are being put in place, but they don’t benefit the safety of orcas. To build on this, another way of helping them live is to stop polluting their water. Their habitats and their conditions only became a concern when people started making those habitats worse. "It's not like we'd mess up their habitats on purpose... (well...)" Many can argue that orcas should be held in captivity because it’s in a safer environment and we’re able to give them what they need. The habitats we give them can have anything needed to be purchased and added. Another strong argument is how we’re able to attend to them when they’re in need of medical attention. If orcas were out wandering the ocean, how would they be helped if they were injured? Technology has allowed us enough information to help organisms other than the homosapien. One of the top reasons for deaths of orcas being beached. Beached meaning that they’re stuck on land and unable to get back into the water. Eventually, it leads to them slowly dying with the lack of water. If people want to eliminate these chances altogether, then keeping orcas in captivity is the way to go. Photo of an orca in SeaWorld having multiple injuries by Chelsy Sutton

In conclusion, the best way we can help orcas is letting them roam where they belong. America has made many advancements in technology which include taking care of organisms of all kinds of families. Orcas are smart and able to fend for themselves but if they need our help then we should be able to. The best we can do is help clean their environment and let them live naturally. For many years, humans have only wanted the best for themselves. It started from hunter and gatherers to modern day. We survived till this point and are lucky to be able to see life now. But if we were to trap humans and put them on display, it’d be wrong. Why is it any different with the orca that has even more of a brain than us? "In 2016, SeaWorld was ordered to stop breeding orcas due to sexually harassing them for profits. They never did." This builds on the fact that laws are being put in place but they’re not helping the group they’re supposed to. Orcas are being forced to breed and the only beneficial part is how SeaWorld has had rising stocks. SeaWorld has had 166 orcas since 1961 and 131 of these orcas being dead. The rising concern comes from the documentary Blackfish which documents marine life in captivity. Instead of providing new display cases for orcas, people should contribute to helping fix their original homes. Growing urbanization rates have a direct relationship with water pollution and how dark the ocean is. Orcas needing to go to the surface for air because they’re in the dolphin family, their vision being impaired can severely affect them. The implications from this include increased death rates of orcas. When it comes to orcas needing our help, we start with their living environment. Granted, many in favor of holding orcas in captivity for human entertainment purposes provide many strong points, the case against it holds a stronger case. It all comes down to morals and not just thinking of what benefits us as humans. It’s about thinking of what’s best for our society, which includes organisms other than humans. Although orcas may not have the same functioning prefrontal cortex as humans, it doesn’t mean they don’t experience pain in ways we would. Just because orcas aren’t human doesn’t mean they can’t be dehumanized. Photo of people protesting for orca lives by Backbone Campaign They’re contained in small spaces and depend on their caretakers for their necessities. They can’t roam around as they would in the wild.

Deep in the South African savanna, I stood next to a rhinoceros that softly nudged me with its rough skin as I gazed up at the bright, cloudy skies. Suddenly, a ringing noise sounded at the back of my mind, and I found myself back in my office. The savanna became my desk, the rhino shapeshifting into a stack of papers, and the skies hardening into the ceiling. Sleepily, I flipped my annoyingly persistent phone over, only to sharply stiffen as I saw who interrupted my slumber the Chief Editor, Susan Henson. My boss often easily took interest in new stories, and recently, she had become fascinated with the goingson in South Africa. Unfortunately, it seems that she wants me to do a piece on that country. Again. As tempted as I was to dive off a cliff at the thought of more insufferable work, quietly groaning to myself, I answered the call. My eyes slowly widened as I heard that the next subject of my research was to be rhinos...what a lovely coincidence. I could not decide how to feel about this assignment. On one hand, I already had a big stack of papers so discouragingly humongous that even Terry Gerin would have trouble taking it down. Still, my animal-loving heart could not resist such a golden opportunity. My friends may argue that they are dangerous, especially with those horns of theirs, but otherwise they just roam around munching on the grass, they are so independent and amazing! Though I have yet to see one in my lifetime, surely people that see these creatures must find themselves in awe, from their strong stance to the curve of their horns. And yet, I would soon find out that awe is not the only reaction people have at the sight of rhinos. To begin my research, and to serenade myself with rhino awesomeness, I took to Google Images, typed “rhino,” and awaited my results. I was immediately met with endless pictures of the harmonious relationship between these creatures and nature. All over my screen, photographs showed rhinos standing amongst an endless field of savanna grass, identical to the setting in my dream. There was even one featuring a mother rhinoceros and her young, peacefully and carelessly nestled together. This loveable sight filled me with glee, and I scrambled to see more of the adorable creatures. Scrolling down, I saw some pictures hidden in the wave of rhinos and their natural habitat, which depicted them caged in concrete walls. I frowned at the sight and attempted to muster some optimism, reassuring myself that, at least they are relatively unharmed. However, these attempts grew quieter and quieter, especially as I glimpsed a picture of a young rhino nudging its mother, lying defeated on the hard, concrete ground. Silence rang in my mind as concern grew at the back of my mind. The impending stampede of dismay and indignation from those photographs began to sneak up on me, so I decided to stop and recollect myself. That is when something suspicious crossed my eyes. Looking closely, I noticed that some of the rhinos looked...wrong. Then, the realization hit me. Their horns! They’re gone! Looking frantically around my screen, I examined each picture more carefully. The most shocking of them all depicted a rhino whose face was ear-streaked as blood oozed from the spot where its horn should be. At this sight, outrage boiled in my heart as I angrily questioned the cause of such an atrocity. The mighty rhino may be fearsome, but surely their horns do not break so easily. Not to mention, the wound looked cleanly detached, almost as if ripped from the animal by a great force. I immediately took to the internet to learn the culprit of this violent act: humans. My heart sank lower than I thought it could, but I was not surprised as humans have a habit of harming nature. To understand why rhinos and their horns are so coveted, let us first examine their scientific history. How to stop South Africa's rhino poaching crisis The Pointed Destruction by Alice A. 80% of the world’s rhino population inhabits South Africa, which would likely become extinct in 30 years if no action is taken. A picture of a black rhino in South Africa by Michael Zero Mayer More than a thousand rhinos had been poached by 2013.

When looking at rhinos with the classification system developed by Carolus Linnaeus, they are categorized as the largest in the perissodactyls order, which features mammals with three hoofed toes. As described by Katherine H. Nemeh and Jacqueline L. Longe, writers for GALE, rhinos themselves feature thick skin, one to two horns, and three toes per foot. Interestingly, according to Eric Dinerstein, an author for Britannica, his group not only features these animals but others, like zebras and horses, as well. This correlation is not shocking as, looking closely, those animals share similar features, such as the tree hoofed toes previously mentioned. Because of this, it is not difficult to think of rhinos simply as oversized horses with horns on top. One could even pretend they are gigantic versions of unicorns. From a smaller and narrower view, the rhinoceros themselves belong to the Rhinocerotidae family, which covers multiple species of rhinos worldwide. In South Africa, for instance, the main species that live there are called black rhinos or, formally, Diceros bicornis. This group is known for their grey skin, contrary to their name, pressed upper lips, and two horns made up of hair-like keratin fibers, which could also be found in human nails and hair. Their horns have become the target of mass poaching in South Africa, especially in peace parks like the Kruger National Park. In fact, according to political scientist Bram Büscher and geographer Maano Ramutsindela, more than a thousand rhinos had been poached by 2013. This shocking statistic has prompted many calls for action to be taken by the country’s government, with public outrage and concern at a peak. Thankfully, the government and their peace parks have taken heed to this call, and they have elected to use an approach known as green militarization. Green militarization is defined by Elizabeth Lunstrum, a professor of geography as the utilization of military tactics to promote conservation. Now, the irony of this solution is obvious, especially since, historically, aggression was not typically used to preserve tranquility. Basically, imagine a fire slowly dying and, in an attempt to save it before it gives out, someone runs up and throws a bucket of water on it. As such, it is no surprise that many have risen in opposition, demanding more peaceful approaches. This controversy begs the question: how can the South African government limit the scale of rhino poaching in their national parks? Are such drastic measures necessary to preserve the peace and keep poachers out? More pressingly: what is the best way to save as many rhinos as possible? Let’s begin by considering the perspectives of those who support the use of green violence, which mainly points out the dangerously increasing urgency of the crisis, as well as the unavoidable violence stemming from South Africa’s bloody history. Berendien Anna Lubbe from the University of Pretoria and her colleagues best convey the urgency of the rhino poaching issue, revealing that 80% of th world’s rhino population inhabit South Africa, which would likely become extinct in 30 years if no action is taken. Thus, it is apparent that drastic and effective measures are crucial if South Africa hopes to keep their rhino population alive A picture depicting rhinos living without their horns by Bernard Dupont

Moreover, supporters of using militaristic approaches to save rhino horns point out the historically brutal background of South Africa, reasoning that it would cause any attempts to quell violence to be in vain. To provide context, the country has struggled immensely with racism, most notably during apartheid. Even the establishment of nation parks and the conflict surrounding rhino horn poaching reflects this. According to Lunstrum, the creation of Kruger National Park, one of the most famous South African peace parks, was an attempt to establish a white supremacist nation-state and led to the removal of many black inhabitants. This racial tension detailed by Lunstrum has only worsened, as Büscher and Ramutsindela identified that most of the poachers are black. Both of these contrasting positions between both races in South Africa have clearly deepened the divide, reopening the wounds from apartheid. Thus, supporters of green violence claim that, even if it seems like an extreme measure, interfering would mostly likely be in vain since violence is deeply rooted in the country’s history and culture; therefore, letting it continue until the rhino crisis is solved would be the natural course of action for the country. On the other hand, those who oppose the use of green violence highlight its environmental hazards and suggest other peaceful alternatives that have the potential to succeed. The main issue with using a militaristic approach is that the environment, including humans, would be harmed. Looking at the ecosystems in and surrounding the South African peace parks, Lunstrum observes that militaristic approaches severely damage the environment, while demilitarized zones result in the protection of biodiversity. This observation points out the destructive nature of these tactics since, even if their purpose is to protect the rhinos and their horns, the habitats of those creatures and others in the ecosystem may end up destroyed. From a social standpoint, there are also negative environmental consequences caused by violent methods against people living around peace parks. According to social scientist Wendy Annecke and landscape ecologist Mmoto Masubelele, to clear the area for military operations against poachers, soldiers often burn through villages to create a no man's land, and they establish bases and supply lines that interfere with conservation efforts. These consequences of green violence foster fear and anger among the people and ironically harm the environment, acting against their intended purpose. Thus, the lack of effectiveness of aggression against the increased rhino poaching is exposed, leading many to push for a different, safer course of action. As a result of demands for safer and more successful alternatives in curbing the rate of rhino poaching, opposers of green militarism have also presented many different proposals. For example, Francis Massé from York University and his partners propose the use of scouts to patrol the peace parks and report the entries and exits of poachers. The idea is that having people patrolling the park would deter poachers from risking entry, and it would help the government and park officials catch offenders. Furthermore, this peaceful approach would not result in damage to the ecosystem or evictions of inhabitants; thus, the use of scouts can be seen as a safe and potentially successful measure. Another suggested counter to rhino poaching is to cut off trading routes between poachers in black markets. Ferreira and his colleagues specifically reference markets in China and Vietnam, where rhino horns are in extremely high demand and buyers are willing to pay steep prices. They propose that, by cutting off trade, poachers would stop hunting since they will not be paid for their hunts. This approach focuses more on the root of the issue and avoids having to directly engage with poachers on the grounds of peace parks. Therefore, this distant tactic may also be effective and safe since the strategy takes place outside the ecosystems, eliminating the motivation of poachers and discouraging them from attempting to poach rhino horns in the first place. Overall, while arguments in favor of utilizing green violence make some valid points about the urgency of rhino poaching, others opposing it have stronger arguments. The rhino poaching crisis has increasingly worsened in South Africa and immediate, effective actions must be taken to preserve the population. However, there are peaceful alternatives that successfully protect and preserve the environment, which has more benefits than the current green militarization tactic. Moreover, using the violent nature of South Africa’s history is not enough to justify the aggressive methods currently in place as those approaches harm the ecosystem. This is because the rhino poaching crisis has yet to slow down, demonstrating the ineffectiveness of green militarization and providing an even greater reason to seek a different approach. As such, we should come together to push for a more peaceful and effective measure in order to protect the rhino species against pointed destruction for years to come. I was immediately met with endless pictures of the harmonious relationship between these creatures and nature.

Who Cares About the Orcas b y : C h r i s t i a n C . On a bright sunny day, with white puffy clouds and a clear blue sky, I woke up ready to go to work. I had recently finished all my assignments given to me by my boss and was ready for a nice and easy week until my next assignment, like usual. I got my morning coffee, and a nice raspberry Danish pastry, and then headed off to work. I arrived at work and was greeted by everyone. I went into my office and took it easy, enjoying my life having no assignments, until my boss entered my office. He greeted me and then said the most heart-drenching, life-taking, soul-sucking thing he could’ve ever said, “I want you to write about the captivity of orcas in Sea World.” I was instantly filled with anxiety, depression, and procrastination. I looked at the window that focuses towards the outside and it was already dark, stormy, and filled with clouds as black as coal, Man, I’d rather do anything but this. After he left, I had one thought: WHO CARES ABOUT ORCAS? I knew nothing about them except that they were at Sea World giving a great show and doing some amazing tricks. I honestly didn’t know what, who, and why anyone would read about the orcas, but I had a job to do, and I was going to do it. How to save the orcas I began by searching on Google. I typed in “orcas” to see what the big fuss was about. The orcas were beautiful. They were black and white like a cow. The top of the animal was mostly black with a little spot of white a little bit above the eye. I was expecting to see pictures of orcas swimming or in mid-air with their pod enjoying their life as orcas. Well, I did indeed find these pictures. Many of the pictures were of orcas in mid-air or swimming in the vast, dark blue ocean, with a pod and doing their classic orca things. When I found that out, I felt bad for the orcas in captivity after looking at the other free and wild orcas who were relatively healthy. I began to do more and more research and finally found out why my boss really wanted to me do this. There is a debate over Sea World that questions the morality of the captivity of orcas. The overall question: Is it ethical to keep orcas in captivity for the purpose of human entertainment? Before beginning to understand this argument and going deep into the arguments for those in favor and those against it, I had to understand the animal. I began to do even deeper research on the orcas. Photograph of orca jumping out of water, shot by Bspujari, Dreamstime "Is it ethical to keep orcas in captivity for human entertainment?"

Before beginning to understand this argument and going deep into the arguments for those in favor and those against it, I had to understand the animal. I began to do even deeper research on the orcas. The orca, also known as the killer whale, is a warmblooded, sea mammal that feeds its young with milk from the mother and has lungs. This is like humans who are also mammals, feed their young with milk from the mother, and have lungs. They come from the family Delphinidae, which is the same family as dolphins and other kinds of whales. This is because they are toothed whales. Similarly, to dolphins and whales, because of their lungs, they have a blowhole where they must go up to the surface occasionally, and breathe air, which is why they are seen jumping in and out of the water often. They also have the second largest brain in the animal kingdom, second to their cousins, the sperm whale. They are one of the most intelligent animals and are known to be very sociable and emotional. They have very developed brain systems and have very fast processing and long-lasting memories. Thus, the reason they are emotional and sociable. Orcas also have echolocation, which gives them even more brain power. They also can speak different languages across different pods but can understand other pods. This shows just how adaptable orcas are. The similarity in traits and the brain, and the fact that they can both speak different languages, closely reveal how relatable the two creatures are. Now that the orca has been established, both sides of the argument can be examined. There are those who believe that orcas should stay in captivity and those who believe they shouldn’t because it is not immoral. While those who believe that the orcas should stay in captivity have a good argument, those who believe that it is immoral to have a stronger argument. Those who believe that we should keep orcas in captivity usually bring up a few main points: the points being extinction, money, and superiority over the animal. Keeping orcas in captivity in places like Sea World does help with extinction. The population of orcas has been falling rapidly due to global warming which Sea World does help to prevent from affecting orcas. This is a valid point that pro-captivators bring. The company can breed and try to maintain the orcas to stop them from falling even more. In the standard Sea World environment, the orcas are fed regularly and protected from potential predators and poachers. This sounds great but they are forced to train and perform in these places as well, which can make the animal ill and stressed, which is why many orcas’ fins are floppy as mentioned before. So, is it really a good thing to keep them? The supporters also claim that Sea World makes a lot of money which can help with the economy in taxes and jobs. The average Sea World yearly revenue is about 1.7 billion dollars and this number, though it may fall sometimes due to boycotts, will always end up rising. Since it makes a lot of money and creates jobs, this is also a valid point. Many pro-captivators also think that it’s ok because orcas are primitive animals and since humans are the superior animal, we can do this since there is a survival of the fittest kind of emotion towards this. Well, this is an invalid opinion. I have already mentioned that orcas are smart and sociable. Keeping these animals in captivity where they can’t travel with pods and can’t communicate well with others is like torture. These types of people should imagine themselves in the same type of situation since the orcas most likely feel the same. Any human, if not able to do anything and have no contact with anyone else, would go mad. Diagram of orca made by Amsel, Sheri. Picture of orcas performing for an audience at Sea World, taken by Fox news, photographer unkown. "Those who believe that we should keep orcas in captivity usually bring up a few main points: The points being extinction, money, and superiority over the animal."

Although the people wanting to keep orcas in captivity have some good points, the people against do have some better points. A big eye-opener that started this debate is the orca named Tilikum and the documentary “Blackfish.” The documentary follows this orca who eventually kills three Sea World trainers who trained it and how they mistreated and poorly handled the animal and how it allowed many people to know the dark secrets of Sea World and begin to turn against them. On top of this, more evidence of Sea Worlds’ mistreatment of the animals appears on their rap sheet with evidence of forcibly mating the animals, drugging them to calm them down, and drilling into their teeth without painkillers. This is the reason many people who believe in freeing animals want to free the animal. The stress from being in these places even causes orcas to have committed suicide before as well. The story of an orca named Hugo came in 2016 when he jumped out of his tank and died. Reports say that Hugo was unhappy and that it most likely was an attempted suicide. The evidential purposeful suicide of the orca shows how being in captivity and being forced to train and learn tricks while having limited availability to act in their own natural habits stresses out orcas too much and can make them suicidal. To accommodate the needs of both sides of the argument, the U.S. should set up areas around the ocean where orcas are naturally abundant and make them tourist attractions. This way, people can still get money and jobs taking care of the orcas, making sure no one does harm and feeding them. With the orcas being in their natural environment, they would have more space, be able to move freely and be happier. Tourists could also go and watch the orcas jumping in and out of the waters and blowing water out of their blowholes, still entertaining the audience. The place could even sell fish to feed the orcas to continue to entertain the people. This is what happens a lot with whale watching so it can most likely be done with orcas since they are so closely related. Occasionally, a breeding pair can be taken out and bred to maintain the population if necessary. This is better as well since orca pods are a matriarchy, and they can only breed once every five years. Females can only breed once they reach fifteen, so this system is more humane and effective. Ultimately, the question of morality when it comes to the orcas should be that it isn’t moral. The negatives should outweigh the positives and there should be change. The people of the world should make this change collectively. Only by working together can the people finally show more morality. Picture of an people watching an orca jump out of waater, sort of orca watching, published by TheWillowsInn, photographer unkown. "The people of the world should should make the change collectvely. Only together can the people finally show morality." A picture of Tilikum before the kills, published by Pennlive.com, photographer unkown. "The evidential purposeful suicide of the orca shows how being in captivity and being forced to train and learn tricks while having limited availability to act in their own natural habits stresses out orcas too much and can make them suicidal. "

Octopus, a Meal, or an Animal? Art by rawpixel.com. An alive octopus hanging on a wire left to dry out and die. Unfolding the controversies of the eight-legged animal by Isabella H. I arrive at my tiny cubicle in the corner to await my group’s assignment of the day when, “clack, clack, clack” (no), as I set my bag down and look up slowly, from the corner of my eyes appears the chief editor, Susan Henson. “I have an assignment that I need done ASAP,” she demands from my group leader. “I would like to have one of your group members on it.” Please don’t be me. “You in the blue shirt,” she says as she points her index finger at me. “I want this on my desk by the end of the day.” Of course. It’s always me. I come to find out, when my group leader, a tall, young woman, reads out the assignment’s topic, that I would need to take a stance on the increasing demand of octopuses as food. I won’t lie, I was puzzled as to why I should care about something that didn’t even concern me. Regardless, I knew I had to do my job and get this done, so I started planning my outline. What I began to realize was that unlike other animals known to be targeted for the selfishness of humans – orcas, elephants, or rhinos – octopuses were not as popular. As I step into the jam-packed office at 7 a.m. on the hottest day of summer, wiping the beads of sweat that glisten atop my forehead, I dread what comes next – everything – another day of tedious work. It’s SUMMER… Do these people ever go home? I make my way up the spiral staircase in the center of all the chaos at Time Magazine, taking in the smells of freshly printed paper and brewing coffee.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not sweeping the pain and cruelty they experience under the rug, but my first thoughts were such. It was not until I did further research that I learned I was ignorant. After my outline was complete, I decided to begin conducting my research by browsing Google images in search of the worst examples of octopus cruelty. At first, all I saw was the beautiful creature swimming underwater next to colorful mountains of coral reefs, but as I scrolled further down, I understood why this assignment was necessary. Multiple photographs appeared of smiling fishermen standing next to pale purple octopuses laying upside down on a wire held in place by blue clothespins. Why are these people standing next to these dying creatures, smiling from ear to ear like Cheshire cats? Of course, they were happy; at the end of the day, they were getting a paycheck in their name, but the pictures had an unsettling quality to them. I continued my search and came across a website of images dedicated to different social media influencers that eat octopuses alive. The website showed them grabbing the octopus, chopping off its arm, and then dipping it in a dark-colored sauce to eat it. Can the octopus feel this happening to them? Why would they eat it alive? One million octopuses are slaughtered each year. Not only did the website include how the octopuses were eaten alive, but it also included multiple recipes for cooking the octopuses. I began to wonder why methods like boiling them alive or cutting off their tentacles before cooking them were so normalized. Images of such acts were posted all over food blogs and recipe websites. Octopuses held in tongs about to be submerged in steaming water, and chopped tentacles garnished in pans with lemon slices and parsley appeared with every scroll of my mouse. The octopuses were not seen as living creatures but rather as someone’s pleasurable dinner. When I think of an octopus, I think of an eight-armed purple creature that lurks in the shadows of the ocean’s waters. But as I came to learn, they are much more complex. Octopuses are considered invertebrates. They are part of the smaller class phylum Mollusca, also known as mollusks, and are a part of the larger class Cephalopoda, which includes animals like squid and cuttlefish. Octopuses are found around the world, and there are about 220 classified species. They differ greatly in size. Some can grow to just about two inches long, while others can reach well over 30 feet. Similar to squids, octopuses have heads that are slightly separated from their bodies, with eight arms that are joined together at their base, forming what looks like a skirt. Each arm or tentacle has two sides that are filled with suction cups called suckers. Most octopuses use their arms to crawl on the bottom of the ocean floor. The octopus that most people know of is the O. vulgaris also referred to as the “common octopus. ” This octopus is medium-sized and is found in temperate and tropical waters. It typically lives on the ocean floor, hiding along the rocky surface. Known for their intelligence, when endangered, octopuses discharge inky substances that they use to paralyze their attackers. Moreover, they have the ability to change the pigment in their skin in order to camouflage themselves when in danger. Basically, this octopus is one of the most intelligent invertebrate creatures lurking in the ocean. Art by rawpixel.com. Alive octopuses left outside to dry out and die.

As I continued my research, I remembered a specific instance where I consumed octopus. A couple of years ago, at a birthday dinner for my best friend, I was offered a piece of the grilled octopus she ordered. I took the piece and tried it. Sixteen years old and eager to tell my mom I had tried something new, I shared this experience with her. Her reaction was not what I expected. To my naive self, eating an animal like an octopus was a rare delicacy. But to my surprise, she explained how she grew up eating octopus in her home country, Lebanon. With this information, I wanted to understand the side of people who support the eating of octopuses. Obviously, I’m not judging them; I mean I have eaten octopus too. I just wanted to see if they truly understood the conditions they went through. Proponents of octopus farming argue it is considered sustainable, as it would lessen the pressure on hunting wild octopuses. One million octopuses are slaughtered each year, but in 2020, the overall total global catch decreased to 377,000 tons. As octopus becomes an increasingly popular meal, the demand to catch it also increases. Moreover, other proponents of this argument suggest that octopuses make great farming animals. Octopuses have high conversion rates where they convert 50 percent of the food they ingest into flesh. Octopuses are able to gain weight rather quickly– about 2 percent every day if they are well-fed. Because of these factors, octopuses are able to reproduce quickly and produce a lot of offspring. In return, increasing farm productivity and economic prosperity. Since they are so used to hiding in tight spaces on the ocean floor, they are able to adapt to their captivity in confined farms. Therefore, many believe aquaculture facilities create more favorable conditions for animals than their normal habitats. This is because the farms allow them to remain hidden and in shelter, therefore avoiding danger. However, proponents of the argument for octopus farming fail to recognize how octopus farming is more beneficial to humans than to the actual animal. Art by pxfuel.com. Alive octopuses hung on a wire left to dry out and die. Those opposed to the practice argue that as more octopuses are caught, more sea animals and other fish are also being caught in order to feed the animal. About one-third of the fish caught globally is used to feed other aquatic animals in aquaculture. Due to this, overfishing has begun to increase. Not only does this impact the fish, but it also impacts the environment. Pollution from fertilizers, disinfectants, and nitrogen from feces and decomposition is released into the environment. Diseases transmitted from wild fish to octopuses are also common on farms. Furthermore, octopuses have such behavioral complexity that it has been proven they feel pain. Octopuses are slaughtered using inhumane methods. They are electrocuted with currents, clubbed to death, and cut in between their eyes. Octopuses have three-fifths of their neurons in their arms, so when they are killed for food, they are able to feel everything done to them. Not only do they feel physical pain, but they also feel emotional stress. Octopus farms are associated with high mortality and aggression rates. Octopuses are known to need a highly cognitively stimulating environment to reach their full potential.

So, the farm systems do not offer these attributes but instead offer extremely confined tanks with the risk that octopuses may become cannibalistic. Those arguing against octopus farming can recognize how much harm is truly done to the animal, all for human benefit. Growing people’s public awareness of the cruel and inhuman conditions octopuses experience on the farms will help prevent their spread. Killing octopuses and farming them not only harms that animal but also destroys whole ecosystems and environments where the octopus played a vital role. Moreover, the main argument made against octopus farming is the abhorrent killing methods they are subjected to. As aforementioned, octopuses can feel pain, and they can also anticipate the suffering they are about to experience in stressful situations. So, by cutting in between their eyes to destroy their brains or by passing electrical currents through their bodies, the farms are causing octopuses to experience a multitude of negative emotions. When confined in crowded tanks under unnatural light, octopuses do the opposite of adapting normally; they become aggressive and experience a sense of territorialism. Moreover, the constant need to reproduce in these environments is also a cause of extreme stress. If the few octopus farms that are being built or that are already built continue to be as successful and supported in the human world as they are today, then it will set a dangerous precedent that could have dire implications for more octopus farms being constructed in the future. Now, I, for one, know this isn’t a perfect world. So, the thought of all octopus farms being shut down is not a reality. However, there is a place where both sides can reach a compromise. Allowing octopus rights on these farms appears to be the most logical solution. We should not always put our wants before the other living beings around us Improving the octopuses conditions by offering them at least a little protection will help decrease the ethical questions surrounding these farms. Giving the octopuses areas to live that won’t cause them emotional stress and finding more ethical killing methods that won’t cause them immense pain are just examples of the ways laws could help octopuses. Humans are always going to want to eat octopuses, just like they do other animals. I, for one, can understand both sides of this argument. However, I do not agree with the ways in which those who farm octopuses treat them. It is our duty as human beings to care for this world and the creatures in it. Even though we are selfish by nature, we should not always put our wants before the other living beings around us. They have minds and feelings too, but just because they don’t look like us does not mean they shouldn’t be treated with care and respect. These animals can’t stick up for themselves, so we, as humans, must work together to help stop the farms from hurting any more of these intelligent creatures, all for human satisfaction. Art by pxfuel.com. Fish market selling different kinds of octopuses.

Why The Orca? by Taniyah F. On an early morning in the New York Times office, I am eager for another day at the job that I worked so hard to get. I can hear the joyful chatter of my coworkers, the typing of busy fingers, and the excitement of ringing telephones. As I walk to get my second cup of coffee, I am as happy as a kid going to SeaWorld. Yesterday the chief editor Susan Henson assigned me my first article. I was giddy with excitement when I found out that she challenged me to write about orcas in three days. I am ready for the challenging yet fun research. At first, the project seemed light-hearted and fun. I love SeaWorld and have been there many times, so the project seemed like just the perfect weekend activity. I mean who doesn’t love SeaWorld? Seeing the orcas perform at SeaWorld, as they jumped 10 feet into the air, and do tricks showing their fins to the crowd. I can hear it “ooo ahhh!!” as the crowd is amazed by their performance. You can even feed the orcas food, or if you’re a huge fan, swim with them. SeaWorld does one heck of a job with their orca shows in their parks. To start my research, I went to find a picture of the infamous orca on Google. Me being the naive person I am, I thought that I would see the idyllic picture of a whale jumping out of the water in its natural habitat, or it being paraded around in SeaWorld parks. The images of the once vivid and distinctive black and white orca had dulled to a grey color. As I see its back slashed open with its insides exposed, I am disgusted. These revolting images made my body shudder. The images represent far more than some loving animal who Americans love to exploit; they represented the way humankind destroys marine life with their selfish means. This sub-adult orca became entangled in cod fishing gear and drowned. by Dr. Jack Lawson Instead, I saw the horrific images of slaughtered Orcas. The Giant Dolphin

AN AMERICAN SAPLE ORCAS An orca jumping out of water with a scenic mountain view. by Jennifer Kennedy FEATURED STORY

their natural way of life in the sea. As a part of the Delphinidae family, one of their close relatives is the bottlenose dolphin. Both mammals breathe air with their lungs which also puts them in the same class. Not only are they the same class but they are also a part of the cetacean’s order. The evolutionary record of the orca is very interesting. The earliest fossils found from a killer whale are those of a small mammal about four meters long. This can imply that the current ancestors of the orca are diverged from other cetaceans, meaning that instead, they are of closer relation to a human than any sea mammal. Maybe instead of killer dolphins, we should look at them like aquatic humans. As seen, fossil records indicate cetaceans sharing common characteristics and features of land mammilla. Granted, most people see orcas as giant killer dolphins, but orcas are more than just part of the dolphin family. Orcas are known for their killing instincts, but also their intelligence. Killer whales are among one of the nonhuman mammals that can recognize themselves in a mirror, they are also one of the few numbers of species, along with humans that experience menopause. The orca also communicates through echolocation. This is a way for the whales to communicate over a wide radius without seeing one another. Further proving that orcas are more humane than they seem and should be treated as so. Proponents of orca captivity argue that orcas are better-taken care of and are less likely to go extinct when in captivity. This argument carries some merit because it is true that orcas are under constant care and observation. When being held in “protective facilities” like amusement parks Orcas are bred to reproduce. SeaWorld proclaims to be an educational facility, that protects its animals and preserves many endangered species of marine animals. Breeding is beneficial to the growth of the orca population because of the small breeding windows of orcas in their natural habitat which is every four years in the wild. UP & UP: A view of the neighbouring peak from the other challenging peak. Swimming in the deep blue boundless ocean Despite seeing some disturbing sights, I then scrolled through images of orcas in the ocean. They were frequently jumping out of the water, their eyes filled with excitement. Some even had their babies with them in their pods. I noticed one photograph of an orca leaping out of the sea, with gorgeous icy mountains in the background that seemed to go on forever. These images warmed my heart. They were what I anticipated to find when initially searching. While staring at these, my heart felt full, yet I was still unsettled by the fact that these images aren’t quite what I was fully expecting. See, when Americans think about the orca or much marine wildlife, they think about their beloved SeaWorld These photographs, however, did not show orcas being paraded before enormous groups of anxious children; rather, they showed orcas in their natural habitat, swimming in the deep blue boundless ocean (where they should be). I saw one image of an orca jumping out of the water, and in the background were beautiful icy mountains, which seemed to never end. This utterly serene feeling washed over me as I saw the majestic creature in its natural habitat. Though, this made me think about how they get that experience if they are in amusement parks and not their “real” home. The Orcinus orca is a species of killer whale. The word Orcinus derives from the Latin language which translates to belonging to Orcus. Orcus was known to be a Roman god, which refers to the hunting powers of orcas. The killer whale is the largest mammal of the dolphin family known as Delphinidae. The orca is easily spotted by their prominent black-and-white color. The white of the orca is located on the eye and extends up to the flank and variable (behind the dorsal fin). Most male orcas can grow up to 10 meters in length and weigh about 9,800 kilograms. Female orcas can only reach about 8.5 meters in length and weigh about 1 meter. With the orca being a relatively large animal, they need lots of living space and room to function in

Orcas pause at SeaWorld show for crowd at San Diego, California, USA. by Creative Common License However, when in captivity orcas are bred more often, allowing for more baby orcas to be born. Not only does this breading process done by big entertainment corporations like SeaWorld increase orcas’ population, but it also gives more ocas to perform and entertain at their many facilities and parks. SeaWorld also argues that being in their protective facilities orcas can have a space where nothing can pose a threat to them, other than SeaWorld itself of course. Lastly, they argue that orcas live longer (up to 20 years) due to the precautions and regulations at their parks. Although, I don’t know if having people constantly scream at you and parade around you in excitement for eight hours every day is exactly enjoyable. Though SeaWorld does have some benefits to its captive practices, proponents of orca captivity fail to recognize how detrimental their captive environments are. Recent studies have shown that many orcas dorsal fins would collapse (leading to death) due to the stressful environment of amusement parks and entertainment facilities like SeaWorld. I mean the orca life expectancy has already gone from forty years to twenty due to orca captivity. That’s cut down by exactly half! A recent study in 2013 showed that SeaWorld’s abusive captive allegedly drove an orca to kill three people, one of those being Dawn Brancheau, an orca trainer at SeaWorld. Due to bad publicity and declines in attendance, SeaWorld stopped its orca breeding. While workers do constantly watch the orcas, they are being strenuously trained for hours leading to exhaustion. Some institutions have even reduced their feedings to motivate and bribe the orcas with food to do tricks. They often resort to manipulating genetics, behavior, and even anatomy. So next time you’re at SeaWorld and feeding an orca as it does a trick, just think about whether that’s its only meal for the day, or if it is even a “true” orca.

The entertainment world of orcas is deep in American culture. Many American kids dream of going to SeaWorld to watch orcas do fun tricks and swim with dolphins. And don’t forget about the orca merchandise that every kid was dripped out in at every show. You can just imagine rows and rows of hundreds of people shouting and screaming at an animal to do tricks. Although SeaWorld STOP ORCA CAPTIVITY!!! The U.S. must put restrictions on big corporations like SeaWorld. The U.S. claims to help marine wildlife, but instead exploit them for their personal benefit. Instead of exploiting orcas, we should help them, and all the marine wildlife. The marine ecosystem is complex and unknown. If this ecosystem is disrupted, then it could ultimately affect human beings as a species. Being t promotes the safety of its animals, many of its practices are inhumane. For instance, their constant breeding schedules are strenuous on the bodies of female orcas who naturally reproduce every four years. This practice, which is claimed to help the orca has ultimately led to its demise. As a veterinarian, Howard D. Martin has seen the dangers of having to put an animal’s life into perspective of your own. them in captivity. If America continues to exploit these vulnerable orcas, we could wipe out humankind. Ultimately, the question of orca captivity relies on one basic principle: the end of humanity. that salmon is a popular source of food for orcas and for humans, we are already interrupting the orcas’ natural lifestyle, let alone keeping Trainer Dawn Brancheau was killed during a SeaWorld show. by unknown

F L I P P E D KY-AN D. ON ITS HEAD. EGOS, WRESTLING, AND SAND DUNES. WHEN I WAS 13, I GOT THROWN OVER A SHOULDER AND ONTO MY BACK UPON A SAND DUNE. THIS MAY SOUND QUITE ABSURD AT FIRST, AND TO THAT, I WILL AGREE. FOR SUCH A NICHE AND HONESTLY BLAND EVENT, AN ENTIRE PERSONAL ESSAY WRITTEN OVER IT WOULD BE INDUBITABLY BASAL TO READ. WHAT THE READER AND I MAY NOT AGREE ON THEN, HOWEVER, IS THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS EVENT. TO PUT IT SIMPLY; GETTING PILE-DROVE INTO A FACE FULL OF SAND WAS THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME. IT WAS THE BEST THING TO HAPPEN TO MY IDENTITY. ALLOW ME TO STATE MY BACKGROUND. I AM ONE OF TWO CHILDREN, THE OLDER OF THE PAIR. I COME FROM SUBURBAN TEXAS, AND MY PARENTS ARE OF AN UPPERMIDDLE CLASS WITH FULL BACHELORS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE EDUCATIONS. I WAS AND STILL AM WHAT COULD BE DEFINED AS A “PRIVILEGED” CHILD. I NEVER ONCE ENDURED THE HARDSHIPS OF MY PARENTS LABORING FOR A LIVING, OR THE PERILS OF MY GRANDPARENTS FLEEING VIETNAM ON A WOODEN BOAT. AS SUCH, AND HOW MANY PRIVILEGED CHILDREN DO, I GARNERED QUITE THE EGO. I THOUGHT I COULD DO ANYTHING. I THOUGHT I COULD BEAT ANYONE. I THOUGHT THAT, IN ANY SITUATION, I’D HAVE THE CAPABILITIES TO COMPLETE IT. TO MANY, THIS MAY SOUND ABSURD, BUT THERE WAS A VERY SIMPLE REASON FOR THESE FALLACIOUS THOUGHTS: I WAS NEVER TOLD OTHERWISE. "SUCH A SETTING IS PERFECT FOR ONE THING—A FIGHT." Shutterstock

DURING 2018, I WAS GRANTED THE CHANCE TO SPEND A WEEK SCOUT CAMPING IN UTAH. FOR THE DURATION OF THIS WEEK, A DIFFERENT TRAIL, CANYON, OR MOUNTAIN RANGE WOULD BE HIKED EVERY DAY. UNBEKNOWNST TO THE CURRENT READER AS OF NOW AND EXTENDING TO THE PRESENT DAY: I HATE HIKING. I’VE NEVER BELIEVED THE REWARD WAS WORTH THE EFFORT, TIME, OR RESOURCES REQUIRED TO TREK MORE THAN 4 MILES. 5 HOURS OF HIKING FOR 6 PICTURES OF A NICE SKY ISN’T QUITE MY FORTE. ALREADY, BY BEING IN UTAH, MY SPIRITS WERE NOT HIGH. COUPLED WITH THE STAY IN CIGARETTE-FILLED VEGAS A FEW NIGHTS PRIOR, I WAS HAVING A MISERABLE EXPERIENCE. THERE WAS A SAVING GRACE TO THIS TRIP, HOWEVER. WHEN THE MORNINGS CAME, FREE OF HEAT AND THE SUN, MY FRIENDS AND I WERE ABLE TO VISIT THE CAMPSITE’S MAIN ATTRACTION- THE CORAL-PINK DUNES. AS NAME SUGGESTS, THE PINK DUNES WERE CALLED SO DUE TO THE SAND’S REDDISH-PINK NATURE, AND THE UNIVERSAL CONCEPT OF DUNES. DURING THESE COOL MORNINGS, THE SAND WAS COMPACT AND EASY TO TRAVEL, WITH NO FEAR OF HEAT EXHAUSTION LIKE YOU WOULD EXPECT IN ANY OTHER HIKING SCENARIO. SUCH A SETTING IS PERFECT FOR ONE THING—A FIGHT. I WILL ELABORATE. NO, THERE WAS NOT ANY BAD BLOOD OR FEUDING BETWEEN US. IN FACT, ALL THE SCOUTS I KNEW HAD A VERY CLOSE CONNECTION TO EACH OTHER, MYSELF INCLUDED. IN THIS SCENARIO, THESE BOUTS OF FIGHTING CAME FROM A TERM COLLOQUIALLY KNOWN AS “BOYS WILL BE BOYS." SIMPLY PUT, WE JUST WANTED TO HAVE SOME FUN. NATURALLY, BEING SCOUTS, THERE WAS ALSO A CODE OF HONOR FOR THESE FIGHTS. IT WAS TO BE A STANDARD WRESTLING MATCH. NO BLOWS TO THE HEAD, NO KICKS, AND THE LOSER OUT WHEN YOU HIT THE GROUND. ALL IN ALL, EXACTLY WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT FROM A GROUP OF SCOUTS. "THIS IS THE POINT WHERE MY EGO KICKS INTO EFFECT FOR THE CLIMATIC WORSE."

I ENTERED THE AREA WHEN THE ROUNDS WERE ALREADY STARTING. BASED ON A WEIGHT SYSTEM, I THEN WAS MATCHED UP AGAINST A KID OF SIMILAR BUILD TO ME- LOUIS. THIS IS THE POINT WHERE MY EGO KICKS INTO EFFECT FOR THE CLIMATIC WORSE. WITH NO OTHER WAY TO PUT IT, ALL THESE SCOUTS WERE OF A RELATIVELY SIMILAR BUILD TO MINE. SKINNY, AROUND THE 5-FOOT RANGE, AND FRAIL-LOOKING. AS SUCH, DURING THAT TIME, IT WAS LOGICAL TO ASSUME THAT, SINCE THEY WERE OF EQUAL BUILD, THEY MUST HAVE BEEN OF EQUAL STRENGTH. I, HOWEVER, WAS ILLOGICAL, AND INSTEAD BELIEVED THAT THE UPPER HAND BELONGED TO ME. LOUIS WAS A QUIET KID. HE DIDN’T REALLY TALK UNLESS YOU SPOKE TO HIM, HE KEPT TO HIMSELF AND DID HIS DUTIES, AND WAS SLOW TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS. I WAS A RELATIVELY LOUD AND BOISTEROUS CHILD, WHO LOVED PARADING AROUND AND TELLING EVERYTHING I COULD SAY TO EVERYONE THAT COULD LISTEN. PERSONALITY DIFFERENCES ASIDE, I ALSO HAD ABOUT A YEAR’S WORTH OF EXPERIENCE WITH JIU-JITSU AND HAVE BEEN PRACTICING KICKSTART FOR THE BETTER PART OF TWO YEARS. IN THIS TIME, I GENUINELY THOUGHT THAT, IN THE SCENARIO THAT ANYONE WOULD CHOOSE AN ENCOUNTER WITH ME, I’D HAVE ENOUGH KNOWLEDGE AND PHYSICAL STRENGTH TO WIN BACK THE UPPER HAND, EVEN DESPITE MY LACK OF PHYSICAL FITNESS, EXERCISE, OR LONG-TERM TRAINING. THE REASON I THOUGHT THIS WAS, AS STATED EARLIER, VERY WELL IN PART DUE TO MY BACKGROUND: NO ONE EVER TAUGHT ME OTHERWISE. IF AN ANIMAL IS BORN WITHOUT ITS LEG, IT WILL LIVE WITHOUT ITS LEG. IT WON’T UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE IS WORSE IN ANY WAY, NOR WILL IT WISH FOR ANOTHER LEG TO HAVE. THIS STATE OF BEING IS THEIR “NORMAL”. ALIKE IN MANY WAYS, THIS STATE OF EGOMANIA WAS MY “NORMAL”. UNLIKE THE ANIMAL, THOUGH, I WAS ABOUT TO WISH FOR THE OTHER LEG. THE MATCH STARTS OFF QUICK. BOTH OF OUR BACKS WERE HUNCHED, THE COOL BREEZE BLOWING AT OUR FRONTS AS WE SLOWLY CIRCLED IN THE DESIGNATED AREA OF THE DUNES. IN MOMENTS LIKE THESE, IT IS IMPERATIVE TO SIZE UP WHO YOU’RE GOING UP AGAINST. I HAD TO START FORMING A PLAN. LOUIS HAD PLANTED FEET, BUT HIS CORE DIDN’T LOOK STABLE. LUCKILY FOR ME, I ALSO HAD THE TAILWIND AT MY SIDE. IF ICAN CLOSE IN THE DISTANCE, I SHOULD BE ABLE TO SWING MY LEG AROUND HIS AND GO IN FOR THE EARLY KNOCKDOWN BY MAKING HIM FALL. ALL I HAD TO DO WAS CLOSE IN BY A GRAPPLE AND— I DIDN’T REALIZE I WAS ON THE GROUND UNTIL 4 SECONDS AFTERWARD. IN FACT, I HAD TO HAVE WHAT JUST OCCURRED EXPLAINED TO ME AFTER MY FRIENDS HELPED ME UP AND WIPED THE SAND-SPECKLED STONES OUT OF MY MOUTH. IN THE TIME I CHARGED TOWARDS LOUIS, HE FEINTED, GRABBED MY ARM, SWUNG ME OVER HIS SHOULDER, AND SLAMMED ME STRAIGHT INTO THE PACKED SAND. IT DIDN’T EVEN LAST 5 SECONDS. I BARELY STOOD AS A CHALLENGE AGAINST HIM. IT WAS THEN I LEARNED AFTERWARDS THAT LOUIS HAD BEEN PRACTICING VOVINAM FOR 10 YEARS STRAIGHT. LUCKILY, I DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY PHYSICAL INJURIES FROM THIS BOUT. MY MENTALITY, ON THE OTHER HAND, WAS IRREPARABLY SHATTERED. IT COULD BE STATED THAT, AT THIS POINT, MY EGO WAS FRACTURED AS A WHOLE. I COULDN’T BELIEVE THAT I LOST. I HAD NO WAY OF FATHOMING THAT, AS A PERSON, I COULD NOT FIND A WAY TO WIN IN A SCENARIO I’VE KNOWN ABOUT FOR SO LONG. FOR A WHILE, I GENUINELY WAS NOT ABLE TO BELIEVE THAT I COULDN’T FIND A WAY TO SUCCEED. EXCUSES STARTED FLOODING INTO MY HEAD. “I DIDN’T HAVE EVEN FOOTING”, I THOUGHT TO MYSELF. “THE WEIGHT CLASSES WERE COMPLETELY OFF”, I PONDERED. “I WISH I HAD ANOTHER LEG TO BALANCE ON”.

THAT’S IT. THAT WAS THE ENTIRE STORY. THREE PARAGRAPH’S WORTH OF EXPOSITION FOR SUCH AN ANTICLIMACTIC ENDING. I APOLOGIZE TO ANY READER WHO WANTED A GLORIOUS UNDERDOG MESSAGE, OR A CLIMB BACK TO GREATNESS. AFTER THE FIGHT, WE WENT BACK TO CAMP AND PACKED FOR OUR DAY OF CANYON TREKKING ONCE MORE. IN THE TOTAL OF NINE DAYS (ACCOUNTING FOR VEGAS) THAT I WAS ON THIS TRIP, THAT ENTIRE WRESTLING MATCH DIDN’T EVEN MAKE UP FOR FIVE PERCENT OF IT. IT WAS, BY ALL METRICS, INSIGNIFICANT. ANY LOGICAL READER IN QUESTION WOULD AGREE. WHY THEN, DO I TOUT THIS EVENT AS THE “MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT’S EVER HAPPENED TO ME”? MY PHILOSOPHY IS THAT “AN ANT CAN KILL AN ELEPHANT”. TO ELABORATE FURTHER, THE SMALLEST CREATURE OR OBJECT HAS ENOUGH POWER TO TOPPLE THE MIGHTIEST OF THINGS—OR CHANGE THE WORST OF LIVES. THE REASON WHY I HOLD THIS MEMORY IN SUCH REGARD IS DUE TO HOW MUCH IT CHANGED MY OWN LIFE IN SUCH A LITTLE AMOUNT OF TIME. BECAUSE OF THIS ONE SMALL MEMORY, MY ENTIRE WORLDVIEW WAS SHATTERED. I COMPLETED A FULL 180 DEGREES. INSTEAD OF CONFIDENT BRAVADO, I INSTEAD OPTED TO NEGOTIATE THINGS OUT PEACEFULLY. I HAD A REAL IDEA OF WHO I REALLY WAS; SOMETHING I NEVER WOULD HAVE OBTAINED HAD I NEVER BEEN THROWN OVER A SHOULDER AND ONTO MY BACKUPON A SAND DUNE. THIS MEMORY WAS, IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, THE BEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO ME. FROM LESS THAN 5 SECONDS, MY LIFE WAS CHANGED, MY EGO WAS VANQUISHED, AND MY IDENTITYBECAME BETTER BECAUSE OF IT. I’M STILL TRYING TO WORK OUT A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS I HAD IN THE PAST, BUT IT IS IN NO SMALL PART DUE TO THAT EVENT THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET A HEADSTART. I APOLOGIZE FOR MY BLASÉ HUMOR, BUT IT COULD BE STATED THAT, FROM THIS FIGHT, MY WORLD WAS... “FLIPPED ON ITS HEAD”.