Dolphins and whales are used in scientific research and military programs, with welfare implications from capture, confinement, and invasive procedures.
Cetaceans used in military and research programs experience stress from capture, confinement in tanks far smaller than their natural range, and invasive procedures. Even brief restraint for tagging or biopsying wild cetaceans causes measurable cortisol increases and behavioral disturbance. The development of non-invasive research methods including drone sampling and acoustic monitoring represents important welfare progress.