Written by Emma Stafki
Ripped from the Wild
Stella’s story begins in 1981 when she was born into the cold, expansive waters off the coast of Iceland (Seydisfjordur). At around three years old, she was torn from her family pod, captured, and sold into a life of confinement. For an orca, whose existence is deeply tied to its family and the open ocean, this separation is not just traumatic—it is a life sentence.
The capture of wild orcas was once a common practice, driven by the demand for marine parks to have these creatures perform for human entertainment. In Stella's case, this meant being shipped across the world to Kamogawa Sea World in Japan, where her life in a small tank began.
A Life of Confinement
For over three decades, Stella lived in a concrete tank, far removed from the vast ocean where she was born. In the wild, orcas can travel up to 100 miles a day, diving deep into the ocean's depths and hunting in complex social groups. In captivity, Stella's world was reduced to the size of a pool, where her movements were limited, and her daily routine was dictated by the demands of performances.
Orca’s primary sense is echolocation, which involves emitting a sequence of clicks and whistles into the ocean and listening for the returning echoes. This ability allows them to identify the type of fish nearby and even discern when another orca is pregnant by detecting the skeletal structure of the developing fetus. In captivity, echolocation becomes nearly ineffective because the sound waves can only bounce off concrete walls. This limitation results in a form of sensory deprivation for the orcas.
Captivity deprives orcas of everything that is natural and essential to their well-being. The social structures, communication, and mental stimulation they experience in the wild cannot be replicated in a tank. Stella was forced to live in isolation or with other orcas who were not part of her family, leading to stress and unnatural behaviors. Over the years, Stella exhibited many of the telltale signs of captive dolphin depression syndrome (coined by Ric O’Barry).
Orcas are highly social and emotionally complex creatures. In the wild, they live in close-knit family groups, exhibit unique vocalizations, and have been observed mourning their dead. To confine such a sentient being in a small, artificial environment for the purpose of entertainment is to deny them the most basic aspects of their existence. Stella's story is a painful example of the physical and psychological toll that captivity takes on orcas.
A Call for Change
Stella is currently 36 years old and she currently lives with her fourth daughter at Kobe Suma. Her story should serve as a catalyst for change, prompting us to reconsider the practice of keeping orcas in captivity. Around the world, there is a growing movement to end the captivity of orcas and to promote more humane alternatives, such as sanctuaries where these animals can live in more natural environments.
Orcas belong in the ocean, not in tanks. It is crucial that we advocate for a future where no more orcas suffer the same fate, and where the beauty and intelligence of these magnificent creatures are respected in their natural habitat, rather than exploited for profit.
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