Should Willy Be Freed?

By MICHAEL D. LEMONICK

For anyone who's seen the movie, the answer is as plain as the blowhole on the killer whale's head. The lovable celluloid cetacean has been wrenched away from his orca family, which lingers loyally within squealing distance just offshore, and his unscrupulous owner wants to kill the prisoner for his life insurance. Even Captain Ahab would vote to let Willy out of his watery cell.

But when it comes to Willy's captive cousins in the real world -- an estimated 466 dolphins, 34 belugas, 20 killer whales, 10 false killer whales and two short-finned pilot whales are held in the U.S. -- the debate is not so simple. Because of government regulation and adverse publicity in the past, cases of outright abuse and neglect at aquariums and theme parks have become rare. Says Sam Sadove, of the Okeanos Ocean Research Foundation in Hampton Bays, New York: "By and large, the facilities are pretty good. Sure, there are things that are questionable, but that doesn't mean you should condemn the entire industry." Sea World, whose four parks make it one of the largest exhibitors of killer whales and dolphins, takes justifiable pride in how well its animals are treated.

Some people argue that marine mammals -- and most other animals, for that matter -- should never be held captive, even under the most humane conditions. Overt mistreatment, they say, is only the most blatant form of abuse; another is keeping animals in cramped spaces. Says Richard O'Barry, who trained five Flippers for the 1960s TV show and then became a marine-mammal activist: "Whales and dolphins live in a world of sound. In a tank, their sounds only bounce back at them. It's like living in a hall of mirrors. It has to drive them crazy." In fact, dolphins have been known to kill themselves by , banging into concrete walls; they also have taken up masturbation, which is rarely seen in the wild.

Many marine biologists, though, think these complaints are exaggerated. Says Sadove: "There's no way you can produce an ideal environment for a 30-ft. killer whale, but you can provide an adequate one." And, observes Louis Garibaldi, director of the Aquarium for Wildlife Conservation in New York City, marine mammals don't necessarily prefer open spaces. "Our belugas often choose the smallest tank available," he says.

Another criticism: animals shouldn't have to learn unnatural tricks. Says David Simser, a biologist with the Massachusetts-based International Wildlife Coalition: "We foster the ideology that these creatures should be performing for us. What kind of education is that? It's a gross injustice." Not so, says Kevin Walsh, director of training at New York's aquarium: "You can see them jumping and doing flips in the ocean. The flips just aren't as clean." Some "tricks" have dual purposes, as when beluga whales learn to put their tail in the air both for performances and for giving veterinarians access to do medical tests. Moreover, the narration that goes with many shows is full of facts about marine biology. Seeing dolphins and whales can make a particularly strong impression on children, teaching them the need for wildlife conservation.

Activists use the marine mammals' evident intelligence as another argument against confinement. Well, maybe. Says Garibaldi: "Whales and dolphins have been put on a pedestal separate from other animals. But pigs and dolphins aren't that far apart in intelligence. People don't think about that when they're eating pork chops."

The animal-rights forces have taken their case to politicians -- with limited success. The state of Victoria, Australia, has banned the collection and display of marine mammals, displays are illegal in South Carolina, and 17 Florida counties have outlawed the capture of dolphins. Theme parks, in turn, are relying more and more on breeding animals in captivity. There may be no need to recapture Willy.

With reporting by Greg Aunapu/Miami and Andrea Dorfman/New York