Aquariums hold some of the greatest and most colorful creatures and plants that live in our waters. The oceans take up 70 percent of Earth’s surface, and we’ve explored less than 5 percent of it all. Some of our greatest and most fascinating findings were found in an aquarium. It’s funny to think that about 50 years ago, these were some of our best discoveries. These aquarium findings made the headlines day after day, and now? Now we can observe something we don’t really think twice about from behind a glass wall.
Aquariums are not only the giant buildings and facilities with "aquarium" in their name, the definition of aquariums extends to marine parks and even the small bowls and tanks in our homes.
Most of us have visited an aquarium or owned one at least once in our lifetime. The main reason for these visits is most likely school trips or family vacations. Although aquariums prove to be very good sources of information about aquatic life with their small factoid signs around every corner, they mostly benefit us, the visitors. Schools also include curriculums for younger age groups and use small fishes to observe life, study, and learn basic fish care.
Aquariums, don’t exactly help the marine life that is kept within them. That’s not their first priority. Unlike a marine sanctuary, aquariums keep the fishes, otters, jellyfish, etc in closed off, controlled environments that are drastically different than those of its natural habitat. In aquariums and marine-mammal theme parks like SeaWorld, the Miami Seaquarium, wild orcas and dolphins live in captivity and can only swim in endless circles in tanks and are denied the opportunity to engage in almost any natural behavior. They are forced to perform and are often torn away from family members when they’re shuffled between parks. Most of them die sooner than their normal life expectancy.
One of the most famous stories was the one about Tilikum, the orca who lashed out and killed SeaWorld trainer, Dawn Brancheau, as well as two other people. This orca had been in a cramped tank for more than 30 years since he was taken away from his family in Iceland. Tilikum even had documentaries that talked about his captivity. Earlier this year, Tilikum died.
Similar to Tilikum, another orca by the name of Lolita was torn from her family when she was just a baby and has lived in the same tank at the Miami Seaquarium for nearly half a century. Recently, a plan has been proposed by the Orca Network to retire Lolita to a transitional ocean sanctuary in her native waters in the Pacific Northwest. You can find more on www.savelolita.org.
Corky is a record-holder, the longest held captive orca in history. It has now been 47 years since she was removed from her family and the ocean environment and taken to a concrete tank. Corky was the first orca in captivity to give birth, and her calf became the first live orca to be born in captivity. He lived for just 16 days. Corky has now been pregnant seven times, none of her calves surviving past 46 days. Much like Lolita, there are plans to retire Corky to an ocean sanctuary in the same waters where her family swims wild and free.
Although there are very controversial discussions going on about aquariums, June is Aquarium Month, and this would be the time to remember the great things that come with owning your own little goldfish in a bowl or donating to a marine wildlife sanctuary.
Remember to clean your fish's tank often even if you have filters, feed them as often as necessary, and don’t take your fish to the pool, even if it is a hot day out.