A newly published peer-reviewed paper in the journal PeerJ ‘An update on captive cetacean welfare’ shows that, despite some limited improvements for bottlenose dolphins in accredited facilities, serious welfare challenges persist for captive cetaceans, especially for orcas and belugas. The authors present clear evidence that captivity continues to compromise the health and welfare of all cetaceans held in marine parks and aquariums and their findings echo growing concern among scientists and the public, who increasingly question the ethics of confining such intelligent and socially complex animals for entertainment and display.
Con or conservation?
Today, on World Wildlife Day, we celebrate the beauty, intelligence, and ecological importance of whales, dolphins, and other marine mammals.
