Cetaceans, which include dolphins, whales, and porpoises, are highly intelligent and social animals that require complex and vast natural habitats to thrive. Captive breeding programs confine these magnificent creatures to artificial environments, often leading to significant physical and psychological distress. Numerous studies and reports have documented the adverse effects of captivity on cetaceans, such as abnormal behaviors, increased stress levels, and shorter lifespans compared to their wild counterparts.

Historically, many captive breeding programs claim educational or conservation benefits. However, experts argue that breeding cetaceans in captivity does not contribute effectively to conservation efforts, as releasing them into the wild from captivity is often impractical and unsuccessful. Instead, these programs primarily serve entertainment purposes, diminishing the educational value and humane treatment we owe these creatures.

In recent years, the public sentiment has shifted towards recognizing and respecting the intrinsic rights of all sentient beings to live free from exploitation. The European Union banned the capture of wild cetaceans for display in the 1990s, and countries like Canada have prohibited the captivity and breeding of cetaceans entirely. However, a worldwide ban on captive cetacean breeding is imperative to spare future generations of these animals from unnecessary suffering.

By advocating for a global ban on captive cetacean breeding, we can push for the ending of existing cetacean breeding facilities.

Additionally, resources can be redirected towards genuine conservation efforts that protect and restore the marine environments vital to cetaceans' survival. By ending cetacean breeding worldwide, their lives will not have to be exploited in facilities anymore.

SeaWorld banned the breeding programme for orcas in 2016, yet their dolphins and belugas are still being bred. In LoroParque, Morgan the orca is still being bred, she was rescued from the wild in 2010 and is deemed as deaf. Even so, Morgan is still being used for profit.

Every day at SeaWorld and LoroParque the cetaceans are being used for shows. This is very outdated and there is no need for animals to have to do shows. Of course, enrichment and exercise is needed but this can be done without the music and the stadium. Instead, the parks could let the visitors watch them doing normal stuff with the trainers. 

In Asian marine parks, cetaceans are still being bred and being used in circus-like shows. They are also being used for visitors, like swimming with them or touching them, especially with the dolphins. Orcas were recently caught for two Chinese parks back in 2015. 

It has been decades and after so many protests it is time to take a stand for cetaceans and ensure that future generations witness these species in their natural habitats, rather than as entertainment spectacles. Having them in parks and in shows makes them seem like they are something to be used.
By banning the breeding worldwide, it will stop the captures in Asia that are being done for the parks. 

The captive environment disrupts the orca brain’s neurochemical balance, other cetaceans have a very similar brain. Orcas are inherently unsuited to be in captivity, even if they are born in the park. There is no conservation purpose as no numbers are being added to the wild by the parks and most of the cetaceans now in the parks are hybrids.  
Most surveys show that people go to these shows to be entertained, not educated. 

There have been over a hundred reported incidents between orca and trainer. The shows need to stop, so do SeaWorld’s ‘swimming with dolphins’ and allowing people to touch the dolphins. There are better ways to show the cetaceans to the public. If the cetaceans have to live the rest of their lives in these parks then stop the exploitation and let them live as normally as possible. 

The complex social, cognitive and physical needs are thwarted by artificial environments like with the bland, sterile and concrete tank. This creates extreme boredom which leads to stress and aggression. This also causes repetitive movements like logging or gnawing at the gate/concrete which leads to infections and stress induced mouth ulcers. 

SeaWorld, LoroParque and others could go happily forward with phasing out all cetacean breeding and ending the shows. These parks need to focus solely on rescues, rehabs and releases instead of primarily visitor entertainment. Many visitors have said they’d still visit with the absence of cetaceans. 

Having cetaceans in a concrete tank will always be cruel. The stadium is made to look pretty for the visitors. Due to ranging habits, intelligence, sociality and acoustic needs this artificial environment cannot satisfy them. The amount of incidents and  the captive cetaceans acting aggressively towards each other shows that they are not thriving. Many of the cetaceans have died younger than their counterparts and usually live years on constant medications like antibiotics. 

 Sign this petition to urge global policymakers to pass legislation banning captive cetacean breeding worldwide, moving towards a more ethical and protected future for cetaceans.