Sea lions are among the most cognitively complex marine mammals in captivity, and meeting their high enrichment and behavioral needs is essential for welfare in aquariums and marine parks.
Sea lion welfare in captivity requires recognition of the species' high cognitive capacity and behavioral complexity. Facilities that rely primarily on food-reward performance shows for stimulation are not meeting the full range of behavioral needs. Modern welfare-focused sea lion management emphasizes positive reinforcement training for health care behaviors, environmental enrichment through varied substrates and novel objects, opportunities for complex foraging challenges, and social management that respects dominance relationships. Facilities that have implemented comprehensive welfare programs report lower rates of stereotypic behavior and better health outcomes.