The Orca whale belongs to the oceanic dolphin family. It is very social and has a matrilineal family group with advanced communication and hunting skills. These mammals form a cohesive group, much like a Native American tribe. Once born, they stay together in their family group for the rest of their lives. The average survival time of an orca in captivity is approximately four years. This may seem like a reasonable length of time for an animal, but what most people don't know is that their lifespan is very similar to that of humans. Imagine surviving an average of only four years in captivity, compared to around 70 years in the wild. Many may wonder why their lifespan is so much shorter than that of wild individuals, but in reality, many are unaware of the conditions an orca must live in while in captivity. Many believe that lifespan would increase with the help an orca could receive from humans. In fact, it's exactly the opposite. Imagine living in an area the size of a bathtub for the rest of your life, with little knowledge of your family's whereabouts, only wondering what will happen next. Being captured is one thing, but having to watch your family die right in front of you is another. More than 50 years of preparation and around 201 orcas have paid the price. Only recently have people realized how problematic it is to keep once gentle wild animals, and yet only a few "tiny" laws exist to "prevent" any inhumane acts from happening in captivity. Laws should be passed to prevent the capture or harm of orcas in the wild and those still in captivity should be gradually rehabilitated into the wild, while being helped to reunite with their former pods and families. This once exciting evening... ... middle of paper ......n and among species. This comes with legislation and monitoring of our environment. This is a step toward protecting the endangered orca population, but it must be scaled globally for the outcome to be effective. Works CitedPrice, Erika P. Since the first capture of orcas, points of view have changed. 2008. http://seattletimes.com/html/snohomishcountynews/2004126831_capture16n0.html. “Welcome to Orca Network – Home.” Welcome to the Orca network. February 21, 2014 http://www.orcanetwork.org/Main/"Orca Network Free Lolita - Capture Story." Orca Network Free Lolita - Capturing the Story. February 21, 2014. Tierney, Lauren. Overview of laws regarding orcas in captivity. Np: Michigan State University College of Law, 2010. http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ovusorcas.htm.4