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Cetaceans in Captivity

by: Taylor Younkin

Intro

- As of (around) 2020 there are ~2,000 dolphins held in captivity.

- Dolphins are captured from the wild often by using brutal techniques such as backing them into narrow bays to lessen the chances of the dolphins getting away.

- It is difficult to breed dolphins in captivity so they are often deliberately captured, rather than rescued.

Introduction

Living Conditions

- Cetaceans in captivity are kept in small and shallow tanks with chemically treated waters.

- The tanks are often very loud due to cooling pumps and other surrounding factors.

- The chemically treated waters cause eye damage, skin disorders, and decline in overall health.

- Along with all of this, cetaceans are very social animals. They need a lot of (the right kind of) mental stimulation. These complex social and physical needs are rarely met in captivity; causing chronic stress, loss of appetite, ulcers, and increased susceptibility to disease due to changes in social grouping.

- The complex interactions between the animals is lost in captivity as pods are separated and the animals are often left alone or with 1-2 tank mates.

- They do however, receive veterinary attention and are fed every day.

Dolphins: According to a research study in 2018, only 13.5% of dolphins born in captivity survive past 10 years old. Whereas, 61% wild dolphins make it past 10.

Along with that, less than 1% of captive dolphins live past 30 years, and 22% of wild dolphins live past 30 (based on the Bottlenose dolphin population recordings in Florida in 1993).

lifespan in captivity: live to ~12-15 years

lifespan in the wild: live between ~30-50 years

https://us.whales.org/2018/08/23/how-long-do-bottlenose-dolphins-survive-in-captivity/#:~:text=Shockingly%2C%20only%2013.54%25%20of%20captive,21.74%25%20of%20the%20wild%20dolphins.

Orcas: Captivated orcas mortality rate is about 2.5 times higher than that of a wild orca.

lifespan in captivity: ~20-30 years

lifespan in the wild: ~60-90 years

https://awionline.org/sites/default/files/uploads/documents/AWI-KillerControversy-OrcaCaptivity-03272014.pdf

Graph

Mortality Rates

Pros of captivity

Pros

- The most beneficial thing of keeping cetaceans in captivity is public awareness. People can be educated on these animals and can learn about any roles that can take on regarding protecting, conserving, and keeping these animals safe.

- Cetaceans held in captivity are also a lot easier to be researched. Research and education is more easily conducted when in a controlled space and biologists can get a more in depth study when they are able to keep the mammals in captivity.

- Endangered species can also be kept "safe" and protected from hunters.

- And, at the end of the day these captivated mammals are fed every day and do receive an extent of vet care, so if a certain species is under an external threat or there's the need for conservation of captive born mammals, they have a home.

Cons of Captivity

Cons

- The chronic stress along with many other health conditions that come from the stress and loneliness of being held in captivity is surly a negative part of captivity.

- Along with the separation from natural habitat, the poor living conditions also serve as a con as many times the animals are deprived of food, put in small shallow tanks, and as a result, having their health compromised.

- The lifespan of these cetaceans are also significantly shortened due to these conditions.

- One of the biggest cons of keeping dolphins and other cetaceans in captivity is the lack of social interactions they have. Dolphins are very social and live in pods where they can communicate with the other dolphins. But in captivity they are deprived of these complex social interactions that takes a huge toll on their health.

Dolphin shows and even killer whale shows such as the

Shamu show at places like SeaWorld are extremely harmful to the cetaceans being presented.

- All the shows are meant to serve as

entertainment to the public, meaning there's

going to be crazy stunts and loud music. Not

only do the stunts serve as potential danger

to the animals, but the loud music often

causes hearing damage and can disrupt

echolocation.

- A lot of times, the animals are also deprived of food prior to

the shows to make them more compliant

These shows are in no way natural to the animal, but they bring in the big bucks.

-Currently, one can buy a dolphin show/ interactive dolphin

experience at SeaWorld (San Diego) for a ticket price starting

anywhere between $70-170 with other places having similar

pricing.

These places make millions every year and act as one of the main sources of revenue for tourist attractions parks which means they're not going to stop the shows just because of the animals health, which is why these shows and interactive experience are so harmful to the lives of cetaceans.

Problems with dolphin shows

In my opinion...

My Opinion

Cetaceans should not be kept in captivity. It's evident that they are mistreated, from the size of their tanks, to the food they're fed. It's not fair that these animals are taken from their habitat and their pods to be used as (mostly) a source of revenue. Places like SeaWorld and aquariums should not be keeping these very large and high maintenance animals for the entertainment of the public. Keeping them in captivity for human entertainment or even research purposes can be detrimental to their physical and psychological well being. It is not humane to stick the animals in small enclosures of no resemblance to their natural environment, with chemically treated waters, which ultimately leads to immense stress and even premature death. In captivity they are deprived of roaming the open seas, socializing with other members of their species, hunting for their own food, and experiencing the full range of sensory stimuli they would in the wild. It is our responsibility as conscious human beings to respect the rights and freedoms of these amazing creatures and ensure they are able to live out their lives where they are meant to be in the open ocean.

What you can do to help:

Be part of the solution

Go to the website linked below and scroll to the end to read the (short) solutions portion of the article. When done scroll down (or click the second link below) and you can take the pledge and sign a petition sponsored by The Dolphin Project to never buy a ticket to a dolphin show.

https://www.changeforanimals.org/whales-and-dolphins-in-captivity

Take the pledge #ThanksButNoTanks:

https://www.dolphinproject.com/take-action/take-the-pledge-not-to-buy-a-ticket-to-a-dolphin-show/

References

https://www.changeforanimals.org/whales-and-dolphins-in-captivity

https://www.changeforanimals.org/_files/ugd/19a760_38ffa746baba4add89d5081defab91e9.pdf

https://awionline.org/content/capture-marine-life#:~:text=Captive%20breeding%20of%20cetaceans%20is,not%20rescued%E2%80%94from%20the%20wild.

https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/what-is-the-rspcas-view-on-keeping-dolphins-in-captivity/#:~:text=Studies%20have%20shown%20that%20dolphins,unstable%20social%20structures%20%5B2%5D.

https://us.whales.org/2018/08/23/how-long-do-bottlenose-dolphins-survive-in-captivity/#:~:text=Shockingly%2C%20only%2013.54%25%20of%20captive,21.74%25%20of%20the%20wild%20dolphins.

https://www.schoolnet.org.za/PILAfrica/en/webs/17963/captivity.html#:~:text=Arguably%2C%20the%20greatest%20benefit%20to,in%20the%20United%20States%20alone.

https://awionline.org/sites/default/files/uploads/documents/AWI-KillerControversy-OrcaCaptivity-03272014.pdf

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