Whales and dolphins in captivity

• Where do the animals come from?
• Unnatural social environment
• Low-stimulus and restricted environment
• Physical and mental suffering
• A lucrative business at the expense of the animals
• Public awareness and legislation
• Closure of dolphinaria and release into the wild

Where do the animals come from?

Whales and dolphins in captivity come from wild-caught and captive-bred animals. Many dolphinaria have breeding programs that aim to produce dolphins for shows and interactions with humans. Apart from inbreeding problems due to the lack of genetic diversity, juvenile mortality in captivity is high.

Wild capture of whales and dolphins is brutal, as young animals are taken from their families, transported over long distances and if they survive all this, they are forced into an unnatural life in tanks or fenced-off areas of the sea for our entertainment. However, the consequences of wild capture are not only massive for the captured individuals, but also for the wild animal population: the captured animals are lost for the survival of the species and thus the affected cetacean community is weakened. In addition, other animals from the family group are sometimes injured or even deliberately killed in wild catches, as in the dolphin drive hunts in Japan.

Unnatural social environment

Many cetacean species, especially dolphins, live in close social groups. These family groups often last a lifetime and learned behaviors and language are passed on from generation to generation. In captivity, however, dolphins are kept in groups that would not have formed naturally. As a result, aggression problems can occur and individual animals have to live out their lives in complete isolation for long periods of time.

Low-stimulus and restricted environment

Whales and dolphins are migratory species and travel long distances in the sea every day. They live in a habitat that is extremely diverse due to the physical conditions such as underwater relief, currents and waves as well as the diversity of species and offers them many opportunities for exploration.

In artificial pools or fenced-off marine areas, their natural behaviors, such as freedom of movement, are completely restricted and their environment is monotonous. In addition, they can no longer hunt and have to become accustomed to a diet of dead fish. Boredom and health problems are the result. Even the training sessions to learn tricks are no substitute for a life in freedom that is rich in sensory impressions and activities.

Physical and mental suffering

Captivity often leads to stress and mental problems in cetaceans. Stereotypies, i.e. the repetition of the same functionless and aimless behavior patterns, such as endless swimming in circles or chewing the concrete at the edge of the pool, and aggressive, violent behavior towards conspecifics or even trainers are an expression of stress, boredom and frustration. Whales and dolphins also suffer from a variety of illnesses that can be traced back to the inappropriate living conditions. They are therefore regularly treated with various medications such as tranquilizers and antibiotics. The mortality rate of whales and dolphins in captivity is high and the life expectancy of the animals is in most cases lower than in the wild.

A lucrative business at the expense of the animals

The conviction that keeping wild animals in captivity only makes sense if it serves the conservation of the species and also includes reintroduction into the wild is becoming increasingly widespread. This does not apply in any way to whales and dolphins in captivity. Keeping these animals in captivity only serves the dolphinarium industry, because it is a billion-dollar business. Whales and dolphins in captivity are used for various purposes: entertainment shows, swim-with programs and dolphin-assisted therapy.

Public awareness and legislation

Dolphinaria are banned by law in 7 countries worldwide. There are also some countries, such as the UK, where there are no dolphinaria even without a ban. In the EU, there are no dolphinaria in almost 50% of the member states. The largest number of facilities in Europe with whales and dolphins in captivity is in Spain. In Switzerland, the second-last dolphinarium closed in 1997 and the last in 2013, and a ban on importing whales and dolphins into Switzerland has been in force since January 1, 2013.

In addition to legal requirements such as the ban on dolphinaria, it is important that many people are aware of the problems associated with keeping dolphins in captivity. The educational work of conservation organizations such as KYMA as well as documentaries such as Blackfish are shaping public awareness and contributing to the fact that more and more people are questioning the idea of keeping dolphins in captivity. They follow the motto “don’t buy a ticket” to put a stop to the dolphinarium industry.

Closure of dolphinaria and release into the wild

As part of the European coalition Dolphinaria-free Europe, we are campaigning for the closure of dolphinaria. At the same time, solutions must also be found for the animals in these facilities.

It is possible to re-accustom captive cetaceans to life in the wild and this has already been demonstrated in various cases. However, not every whale or dolphin can be released into the wild, as each animal is unique and has its own personal history and individual “scars” of captivity. However, the quality of life of animals that cannot be released into the wild through a professionally supervised release process can be significantly improved if they are allowed to live in a marine sanctuary, known as a whale or dolphin sanctuary. Such a sanctuary is not comparable to a dolphinarium, as the animals can lead a largely self-determined life in these natural and protected habitats and experience all the sounds, creatures and rhythms of the sea.