Beluga whales are highly social, intelligent cetaceans whose welfare needs are poorly met in captivity, raising ethical questions about their exhibition.
Captive belugas cannot meet their need for deep diving, long-distance movement, complex social grouping, or natural acoustic environments. Acoustic pollution from tanks and shows conflicts with their highly vocal social nature. Shortened lifespans and chronic stereotypies in captivity indicate poor welfare compared to wild counterparts. Wild populations face threats from pollution, boat traffic, reduced prey from climate change, and direct harvest.