Orcas, dolphins, and belugas in marine parks show high rates of welfare problems and shortened lifespan; several jurisdictions have moved toward captivity bans.
Cetacean captivity represents perhaps the most extreme mismatch between natural behavioral ecology and captive conditions. Orcas and dolphins navigate ranges of hundreds of square miles using echolocation in complex social groups; marine park environments are tiny, reverberant, and socially artificial. Shorter lifespans, chronic health problems, stereotypic behaviors, and medication for stress-related conditions are well-documented sequelae of captivity. The momentum of legislative restriction in multiple jurisdictions reflects the weight of welfare evidence and shifting public values.