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Persuasive Letter - Whales in Captivity

Jenny Pierce writes a letter to Sea Parks complaining about their policy of keeping killer whales in captivity for entertainment purposes. She argues that captivity restricts the whales' ability to swim long distances and causes them stress. Performing tricks daily for food is a cruel practice that humiliates the whales. Additionally, whales in captivity typically live shorter lives than those in the wild, showing that captivity harms them. Jenny believes Sea Parks should release the whales back to the wild immediately.

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Fatema Nashaat
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123 views

Persuasive Letter - Whales in Captivity

Jenny Pierce writes a letter to Sea Parks complaining about their policy of keeping killer whales in captivity for entertainment purposes. She argues that captivity restricts the whales' ability to swim long distances and causes them stress. Performing tricks daily for food is a cruel practice that humiliates the whales. Additionally, whales in captivity typically live shorter lives than those in the wild, showing that captivity harms them. Jenny believes Sea Parks should release the whales back to the wild immediately.

Uploaded by

Fatema Nashaat
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Persuasive letter – Whales in captivity

14 Dunbar Drive
Earley
Reading
Berkshire
RG5 4HA

Date: 12/01/2014
Re: Killer whales in captivity

Dear Sea Parks,

I am writing to complain about your policy of keeping killer whales in captivity for
entertainment purposes at your venues. I strongly feel that you are not only breaching
the most basic of animal rights by keeping the whales in your pools but also believe that
you are harming them in the process too.

Killer whales are very large animals that, by their very nature, need vast room to swim
and hunt within. It is a well-known fact that they can swim up to 100 miles a day whilst in
the wild and I believe that you are restricting this instinct by holding them in small pools
at your parks. Surely it must frustrate the whales and cause them stress being held in
captivity like this.

In my opinion, making the whales perform to audiences on a daily basis is a cruel


practice and one that you should be deeply ashamed about. Killer whales were not born
to perform and should not need to be bribed to do the tricks that you ask of them. Would
you enjoy being made to perform for food on a daily basis? Would this not be
humiliating? I ask that you think carefully about the impact that these shows have on the
whales’ lives and put yourself in their shoes for a moment or two to consider how they
must be feeling every single day.

Finally, I was shocked to find out recently that whales living in captivity typically live
shorter lives than those in the wild. How do you feel knowing that you are responsible for
this? It is not right that you are allowed to be involved in affecting the whales’ lengths of
life in this way.

In summary, I believe that you need to stop your shameful practice and release the
whales back into the wild as soon as possible. It is outrageous that you have been
allowed to get away with this for such a long time and I will do all I can to help ensure
the safe release of the whales back into their natural habitat.

Jenny Pierce
Comprehension – Persuasive letter, Whales in Captivity

1) Find and copy one word that informs us of Sea Parks’ purpose for keeping the killer
whales.

1 mark
2) Up to how many miles can a killer whale swim per day?
75 miles 125 miles

100 miles 150 miles

1 mark
3) Find and copy one word that shows what a whale is not born to do.

1 mark

4) Draw lines to match the following words to their definitions:

captivity To break something.

breaching Making someone feel embarrassed.

restricting Put a limit on.

humiliating Being imprisoned or confined.

2 marks

5) List three arguments used by Jenny Pierce to persuade Sea Parks that keeping killer
whales in captivity is wrong.

2 marks
6) Tick one box to complete this sentence.

Whales living in captivity typically live …

happier lives.

shorter lives.

1 mark
healthier lives.

7) Look at paragraph 3. How would Jenny Pierce feel is she was a whale at Sea Parks?
Use evidence from the text to justify your answer.

2 marks

8) By keeping killer whales in captivity, Sea Parks are violating basic animal rights.

Do you agree with this statement? Use evidence from the text to justify your answer.
Yes No Yes and no

3 marks

9) If you were the owner of sea parks, how would you respond to this letter?

2 marks

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