Sperm whales are the deepest diving mammals, with complex social structures and remarkable intelligence. Threats from shipping, noise and entanglement create significant welfare impacts.
Sperm whales are cognitively sophisticated animals with complex social bonds, cultural traditions and communication systems that rival those of great apes. Welfare threats including ship strikes, acoustic disturbance from industrial activity and entanglement cause individual suffering and social disruption with lasting impacts on affected groups. Conservation measures including shipping lane modifications, seismic survey regulations and entanglement prevention protect both individual welfare and social integrity.