Captive dolphins in marine parks and swim-with programs are among the most controversial areas of animal welfare. Evidence-based assessment of dolphin welfare in captivity and the validity of conservation justifications informs policy and consumer choices.
Dolphin captivity welfare science presents a nuanced picture. Some captive dolphin populations demonstrate good health longevity and show few stereotypic behaviors in well-managed facilities; others show clear welfare deficits. The spatial restriction of captivity — from 100km daily ranges to pools of a few thousand square meters — represents a fundamental mismatch with dolphin natural behavior that cannot be fully compensated by enrichment. Swim-with-dolphin programs create additional welfare burdens through forced human interaction. The conservation justification is weaker than often claimed: captive dolphins rarely contribute directly to wild population recovery, and the funds expended on captive facilities could achieve more conservation impact if directed to in-situ programs.