Dolphins and whales in captivity face profound welfare challenges rooted in the fundamental mismatch between their cognitive needs and pool environments. The evidence against keeping cetaceans in captivity has grown substantially.
The welfare case against cetacean captivity for entertainment is among the strongest in animal welfare science. Dolphins and orcas have sophisticated social lives, complex communication systems, and cognitive abilities that make pool confinement deeply inadequate. The behavioral signs of distress — stereotypic swimming, aggression between incompatible animals, dental deterioration from gnawing pool walls — are well-documented. Sanctuary alternatives that provide large ocean enclosures with social groups are emerging as transitional solutions for animals that cannot be released. Supporting legislation that phases out breeding programs terminates the pipeline to new captive animals.