Captive orca welfare has been under intense public scrutiny since documentaries exposed the physical and psychological suffering of tank-confined whales.
Captive orcas suffer from the profound mismatch between their natural needs and tank environments. Wild orcas live in complex multigenerational social groups with distinct cultures; captive individuals from different populations are incompatible. Restricted movement, inadequate social companions, and performance stress cause chronic psychological distress. Dental deterioration from chewing on tank walls causes pain and infection.