One-third of the world's captive orcas are in the US, and no one can agree on what to do with them

• There are 18 captive orcas in the US. They all live at SeaWorld parks.
• SeaWorld has stopped its orca breeding program.
• Animal activists and SeaWorld don't agree on what's best for the remaining 18 killer whales.

Orcas are large, highly intelligent, social mammals who routinely travel great distances in the ocean — on average about 40 miles a day. Because of their size and their need to swim far and dive deep, many scientists who study orcas argue that it's inhumane to keep them in captivity.