Keeping dolphins, orcas, and other cetaceans in captivity has been increasingly questioned as evidence of their complex cognitive and social needs has grown.
Captive cetaceans cannot swim the hundreds of kilometres per day typical of wild relatives, maintain complex family bonds, or engage in normal hunting and foraging. The evidence for profound welfare compromise in captivity is strong. The trend toward phasing out captive cetacean entertainment is driven by growing understanding of their cognitive and social complexity.