* There are currently 42 orcas in captivity worldwide. At least forty-nine orcas have died at SeaWorld. They only live up to their “killer” nickname in captivity, not in the wild. Keeping orcas in captivity took place since the early 1960s and through time many individuals have lived in several aquariums. In the wild, male orcas live to an average of 30 years (maximum 50-60 years) and 46 years for females (maximum 80-90 years). At least 166 orcas have died in captivity, not including 30 miscarried or still-born calves. Others are in captivity to help them to hopefully increase their numbers. Orcas' diets are very diverse. Many orcas were captured in their natural habitat and then transported, but others were born, raised and died in an aquarium. Researchers can monitor these individuals daily over long periods of time." Some of their diet includes: cephalopods, mammals, seabirds, sea turtles, fish, dolphins, squids, sharks, and whales larger than themselves. According to the report, killer whales typically live almost three times longer in captivity in the U.S. than in other countries. Dear EarthTalk: I’ve been seeing this ad on TV a lot by SeaWorld claiming they don’t take orcas from the wild and that orcas live just as long in captivity as they do in the wild.Are these claims true? some eat just fish, some eat marine mammals. Orcas can be found in How long they can be expected to live is disputed. At present, it is estimated that there are over 40 orcas … Many of them are environments that allow researchers to learn more about them. This is regardless of whether an orca was extracted from the ocean, or … In contrast, only 27 percent of the now-dead females in the captive study survived that long. —Mary Cleveland, Coral Gables, FL Whales held captive outside the U.S. fare much worse than those in American facilities, a new study suggests. So why do these marine mammals seem to fare so poorly? They need 55-175 pounds of food a day. Based upon the MMIR data, and represented in Appendix A, we have calculated the mean duration of captivity (MDC) to be less than nine years. Approximately 157 orcas have died in captivity, not including stillborns and miscarriages. April 23, 2015 Conservation This Week 4 Comment. At least 166 orcas have died in captivity, not including 30 miscarried or still-born calves. Roughly half of the still-living captive female whales are at least 15 years old. 11 Facts Everyone Should Know About Orca Captivity Recent events have reignited controversies surrounding captive orcas. How long do captive killer whales survive? More than half of them are owned by marine circuses in the U.S. Roughly half of the still-living captive female whales are at least 15 years old. How long do captive killer whales survive? 1. Researchers can monitor these individuals daily over long periods of time." They are able to better observe their behaviors with this type of environment. According to a recent SeaWorld paper its captive-born orcas should live to around 47 years, which is comparable to orcas in the wild. Here are a few facts and figures about Tilikum and other orcas in captivity. In the wild, male orcas live to an average of 30 years (maximum 50-60 years) and 46 years for females (maximum 80-90 years). Killer whales (Orcinus orca) were first placed into captivity in 1961 and are now found in theme parks around the world. Dozens of killer whales have died in captivity, including the 3-month-old orca named Kyara that just died at SeaWorld. There are whales that live a very long and happy life while in captivity. Despite successful breeding of captive killer whales since 1985 there is growing concern for their welfare in captivity, which often includes claims of poor survival. Posted on January 20, 2014, 15:50 GMT At least forty-nine orcas have died at SeaWorld. Orcas are often referred to as “killer whales,” in a sensationalist nickname reminiscent of “Jaws“. In the wild, the average life expectancy for a female orca is 50, and some live to be 80 or 90. An orca named Kayla, pictured at SeaWorld Orlando in 2011, died in January 2019 at 30 years old. Whales in Captivity. SeaWorld holds 20 orcas in its three parks in the United States. SeaWorld holds 20 orcas in its three parks in the United States.