Just like us , killer whales can stick out from afflictive tooth problems , an alarming side - effect of living in captivity . A new study examined 29 captive hulk in the US and Spain and found that every single one had dental trouble . Orcas have 48 large teeth each , and damage to them is probable to cause just as much pain and suffering as tooth problems do to us . The newfangled findings are issue in the journalArchives of Oral Biology .
Since the release of the controversial documentaryBlackfish , a moving ridge of criticism towards keeping orcas in captivity has surged . The Blackfish Bill , which illegalized captive breeding of killer whales and orca entertainment shows at SeaWorld in California wassuccessfully give in 2016 . In May this year , France followed cause , banning the gentility of sea wolf hulk in captivity .
There arearound 60killer whales in captivity at the moment , in at least 14 marine parks in eight countries . The new enquiry provides concrete grounds that the health of captive orcas is seriously being compromised .
“ Every hulk had some form of damage to its teeth,”saidlead generator Professor John Jett from Florida ’s Stetson University . " We found that the more than 65 percent possessed restrained to extreme tooth wear in their lower jaws , mostly as a result of chewing concrete and steel tank surfaces . "
Over 61 percent of the whales in the sketch had reportedly “ been to the dentist ” to have hole practice in their teeth . This procedure is called a modified pulpotomy and involve removing the tooth ’s soft pulpy tissue paper .
If we have this kind of discussion at the dentist , the hollow gets seal off up . This is n’t the case for the whales . The hole stays open constantly , having to be treated with chemicals every day to forbid infection . The boring weakens the tooth , which can go to them breaking .
" Once the tooth get worn to the gunpoint where the pulp is exposed this opens up a channel for disease and contagion , so the stave then drill the teeth , " say Dr Carolina Loch , a specialist in hulk and dolphinfish dentition at the University of Otago , New Zealand .
Sadly , the pauperization for daily cleaning of drilled dental holes means that if they were to be rehabilitated in future , enwrapped whale belike would n’t be able-bodied to be released into the wilderness .
" Teeth legal injury is the most tragical consequence of captivity , as it not only stimulate morbidness and mortality in wrapped orcas , but often leads to inveterate antibiotic drug therapy compromising the heavyweight ’s immune system , as we visit recently with the orca know as Kasatka , " bestow conscientious objector - author Dr Jeff Ventre , an ex - orca flight simulator turned medical doctor .
Kasatkawas an sea wolf at SeaWorld that died from pneumonia earlier this year .
“ The consequence of our study should fire serious concern for the wellness and upbeat of captive orca , " said Jett .
