Whales and dolphins in captivity face unique welfare challenges due to their intelligence, social complexity, and the fundamental incompatibility of their needs with aquarium environments.
Cetacean captivity is increasingly recognized as fundamentally incompatible with the welfare of these highly intelligent, wide-ranging, socially complex animals. No aquarium can adequately replicate the cognitive, social, and physical environment that cetaceans require. The transition away from cetacean captivity to sanctuary and sea pen models represents the most important welfare improvement available for these animals.