Research on captive dolphins and whales has been largely superseded by non-invasive wild research techniques that provide better ecological data without captivity welfare costs.
The scientific justification for captive cetacean research has weakened substantially as non-invasive wild research methods have become increasingly powerful. Drone surveys biopsy sampling acoustic recording and photo-identification now provide ecological data with better external validity than captive studies. Animals maintained in captivity show physiological and behavioral profiles that differ from wild conspecifics, undermining the scientific relevance of captive-derived data for wild population management.