<P> Killer whales were first captured live and displayed in exhibitions in the 1960s , soon becoming popular attractions at public aquariums and aquatic theme parks due to their intelligence , trainability , striking appearance , playfulness in captivity and sheer size . As of September , 2016 , there are 56 orcas in captivity worldwide , 33 of which are captive - born . The practice of keeping killer whales in captivity has become controversial . </P>
when was the first orca put in captivity
in the 1960s