SeaWorld has recently announced that it will no longer continue their orca breeding program. This generation of orcas will be the last to inhabit or perform at SeaWorld.

Many of those who go to places that use animals as entertainment do not see what goes on behind the scenes. Zoos and parks do not show the treatment of the animals, nor do they show all the mental and physical pain it can cause them.

Park officials made the right choice to stop the program. However, some people don’t see it that way. It is understandable that some people working for SeaWorld do not support the ending of the program because of all the profit the killer whales brought with them.

The huge difference in life expectancies of the orcas being kept in captivity and in the wild is incredibly shocking.

According to the Whale and Dolphin Conservation, 123 orca whales have died in captivity since 1961. Most of these whales have dealt with numerous horrors. Being ripped away from their families, being put into tanks that aren’t equipped for them, placed in solitary, being forced to perform and so on.

It is also not rare to hear of incidents where the whales have caused the deaths of trainers throughout the year. Keeping animals in captivity does not only hurt them, but also us.

For many years, animal rights activist groups have protested against the captivity of killer whales at SeaWorld. The fact that they will no longer force-breed orca whales is great, but what about the other animals that still have to be kept in confinement?

Barely any of the other species in SeaWorld and other animals trapped in the entertainment industry have received the aid that they need. There could still be a lot more done to improve animal’s lives.

Take the animals that are used in circuses as another example. Ever since we were young, we have seen these animals perform at circuses and amusement parks, not acknowledging that behind all those magical moments that we have enjoyed, an animal could have been suffering.

No one should support an act like that, it is simply not right. Buying a ticket to those shows and places that display animal performances is basically supporting the industry and their poor treatment of the animals.

Another way we hurt animals is by not acknowledging that many of the products we use are tested on them. Some makeup and cosmetic industries rely on the constant usage of animal tests to experiment the safety and effectiveness of their products, and create more products.

However, not all cosmetic and makeup lines test on animals. Some of them are cruelty-free, meaning that none of their products are tested on an animal.

Adapting to a cruelty-free product lifestyle change is not only a way to live kindly, but it also makes you feel great that you’re not contributing to animal cruelty, and decreasing the demand on the industries that do.

There has been more demand of cruelty-free products than there was before, and it is great that there are more industries that have chosen to abstain from testing their products on animals. Hopefully, in the future even more industries will follow.

Some of our clothing such as leather and fur is the result of animal pain as well. While many may disagree that it is not that bad and that they do not mean to cause harm, it can cause unfortunate consequences that can threaten an animal’s life.

Sure, while a leather jacket or fur coat can look stylish, edgy and glamorous, is there really an excuse to wear it when there are other possible alternatives that look exactly the same?

There are better alternatives that are just as good and that have similar texture to fur and leather. Faux leather is a great way, as well as fake fur to stop the demand of real leather and fur, while supporting a good cause.

The world is changing for the better, but slowly. Perhaps, one day mankind will look back and realize how bad we treated animals in the first place for our own benefit and never want to go back to those days.