Killer whales are famous around the world as performers. With major stars such as Shamu and Free Willy, the Orca whale has made a huge impression in both the movies and in live entertainment.

The idea of holding these animals captive is very controversial. Many animals' rights organizations, including the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS), feel that it is wrong to force these wild animals to perform for the viewing pleasure of large audiences. However, theme parks, such as Sea World, make millions of dollars each year off of these animal's performances and merchandise. They argue that they take excellent care of the animals and they find out a lot about them by studying their habits.