Orca whales suffer from physical health damage from captivity at SeaWorld. The average lifespan of an orca whale in the wild 30-50 years. At SeaWorld, the median life span is 9 years. Also, all of the adult males at SeaWorld have a collapsed dorsal fins. SeaWorld has claimed that collapsed dorsal fins are a common condition, using the results from a study of 30 wild orcas in New Zealand. Based on the data, it was determined that 23% of the New Zealand whales had a collapsed dorsal fin. However, 30 whales is a very small sample size, and other studies have found that less than one percent of orca whales in the wild have collapsed dorsal fins. Collapsed dorsal fins can be a result of the conditions in captivity, such as changes in hydration due to varying diets and lower blood pressure due to reduced physical activity. In captivity, because of stress, boredom, and anxiety, orcas often chew on the metal gates of their tanks. As a result, the orca's teeth may break, and their teeth are often treated without anesthesia.
An orca whale with a collapsed dorsal fin
Source: http://cetaceaninspiration.wordpress.com/2013/01/07/why-does-an-orcas-dorsal-fin-collapse/
An orca whale biting on the metal gates of its tank
Source:http://www.seaworldofhurt.com/features/8-reasons-orcas-dont-belong-seaworld/
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