The welfare of captive cetaceans has become one of the highest-profile animal welfare debates globally, reshaping marine park practices.
Captive cetacean welfare has served as a crucible for broader public reconsideration of what zoos and marine parks owe to the animals in their care. The evidence that orcas, dolphins, and other cetaceans suffer profoundly in captivity — cognitively, socially, and physically — has driven policy change faster than most welfare issues. The ongoing debate about existing captive populations points toward coastal sanctuary retirement as the most welfare-conscious long-term solution.