An Update on the Science of Cetaceans in Captivity
By Mark J. Palmer
Dr. Lori Marino, President and Founder of the Whale Sanctuary Project and an expert on the brains of whales and dolphins, along with several expert colleagues, recently posted a detailed article in the scientific journal PeerJ titled: “An Update on Captive Cetacean Welfare” (October 2025).
Most activists against captivity and many members of the general public, educated by documentaries like The Cove and Blackfish, know of the dangers and harm captivity does to intelligent whales and dolphins.
Unfortunately, the scientific community has been corrupted for decades by the false claims of the captivity industry and aquariums, along with pseudo-experts (like trainers, who know little about the science of the species they train) and scientists funded and supported by the captivity industry.
Dr. Marino and her science supporters are working to change those dynamics by publishing important scientific research about captivity and the harms it causes in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
This new update follows from earlier articles in scientific journals headed by Dr. Marino et. al.
The paper notes that, “…captivity presents significant challenges for these long-lived, highly intelligent, wide-ranging, and socially complex animals.”
Captivity puts wide-ranging whales and dolphins in small concrete tanks (appx. 81% of captive cetaceans are in concrete tanks; the rest are in sea pens or netted lagoons). In some examples of experiments, dolphins in tanks that experience repetitive behaviors like swimming in circles or logging at the surface can improve if trainers provide “environmental enrichment” and training. In some instances, moving such dolphins to larger tanks improves their well-being.
Of course, concrete tanks are the most boring and visually/acoustically antiseptic places to imprison an intelligent being like a dolphin.
Dolphins, belugas, and orcas cannot maintain natural connections with their families in captivity as opposed to their lives in the wild. Thus, in captivity, they are forced into proximity with strangers and often animals from different geographic regions. “The limited space available to groups of captive cetaceans may also impact their ability to use dispersal to keep intra-group aggression to a minimum.”
As for feeding in captivity, “Fish are delivered to captive cetaceans in a manner (i.e., thrown directly into their mouths above water) that requires little to none of the cognitive activity involved in natural hunting and feeding.”
In reviewing the issues of cetacean health in captivity, the writers note that marine parks often refuse to share health records of captive dolphins and whales, keeping the information from scientists and the public. The scientific record of captive cetacean diseases is thus very limited, due to the lack of cooperation from marine parks.
However, there are many obvious examples of health problems. Stereotyped behaviors, such as endlessly circling in tanks or logging in corners of the tank, are obvious examples of mental deterioration.
Self-harm can also occur, with whales and dolphins slamming their heads against the sides of tanks, as well as aggressively attacking other dolphins in the tank. There are numerous examples of dolphins and orcas breaking and wearing down their teeth, which can cause a fatal bacterial infection. Similar tooth problems are seldom found in wild cetaceans.
“Viral, bacterial, and fungal infections are found in both captive and free-living cetaceans, with viral and bacterial pneumonia the most common causes of fatality in captive cetaceans.”
“(D)espite the findings that survival of captive orcas has generally increased in the last four decades, survival to age milestones remains poor in captive orcas when compared to free-living orcas…With the exception of the bottlenose dolphin, no other cetacean species lives as long in captivity as in the wild.”
Dr. Marino et.al. conclude by questioning whether dolphins and whales should be kept in captivity at all. “In conclusion, the evidence clearly shows that ongoing health and welfare challenges remain for captive cetaceans, indicating that they are generally unsuited for captivity from both practical and ethical standpoints.”
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The International Marine Mammal Project of Earth Island Institute is working to end the captivity of all whales and dolphins. No cetaceans should ever be caught in the wild for the purpose of keeping them in small concrete coffins. Those dolphins and whales currently in captivity should be retired to seaside sanctuaries, like the one being built in Nova Scotia by our colleagues with the Whale Sanctuary Project. We’ve been able to help shut down several large aquarium complexes known for abusing cetaceans. Can you donate to help whales and dolphins still stranded in tanks? Thank you for your support!
