Dolphins, orcas, sea lions, and other marine mammals in zoological settings face unique welfare challenges due to the profound gap between their natural ocean environment and captive facilities.
Marine mammals present some of the most acute welfare challenges in captive settings. Cetaceans — dolphins and orcas — are particularly problematic: their natural habitats involve vast ocean ranges, complex three-dimensional movement, rich acoustic environments, and sophisticated social structures that cannot be replicated in any pool. Evidence of poor welfare includes tooth wear from chewing pool walls, abnormal social aggression, immune suppression, and dramatically reduced lifespans in some species. The scientific and ethical consensus has increasingly moved toward phasing out cetacean display, with sanctuaries in natural coastal enclosures emerging as a more acceptable model. For pinnipeds (sea lions and seals), welfare can be achieved in captivity with sufficient space, environmental complexity, and social groupings.