Whales and dolphins in captivity face profound welfare challenges related to space, acoustic environment, social structure, and behavioral restriction.
The welfare needs of cetaceans are fundamentally incompatible with any currently feasible captive environment. These are wide-ranging, socially complex animals with sophisticated communication systems. Even the best-designed pools cannot replicate the acoustic complexity, social choice, or physical range of wild environments. The behavioral and physiological evidence of chronic stress in captive cetaceans is substantial and consistent across facilities worldwide.