Bottlenose dolphins in captivity have been studied more extensively than almost any other zoo species, and the accumulated evidence raises serious questions about whether their welfare needs can be met in marine park environments.
The evidence that captive dolphin welfare is significantly compromised is more robust than for almost any other captive species. Reduced longevity, increased gastric disease, stereotypic behavior, and the inherent impossibility of replicating the acoustic richness of the ocean or the social flexibility of fission-fusion societies all point to fundamental welfare deficits in even the best marine park environments. Swim-with-dolphin programs add additional stress through unpredictable human contact. The momentum in welfare science is clearly toward phasing out cetacean captivity for entertainment purposes.