Abstract

All marine mammals in captive settings that are exhibited within the USA are protected under the authority of the Animal Welfare Act, and such facilities are required to adhere to the regulations and standards that pertain to marine mammals.^1,2 Therein, section 3.109 titled Separation describes the importance of housing social marine mammals with others of the same or biologically related species. However, animals that aren’t compatible cannot be housed in the same enclosure. Additionally, they cannot be near other animals that may cause them undue stress, discomfort, or interfere with their good health. These parameters may be challenging in managing marine mammal settings but are paramount for good welfare for each marine mammal.

Normal marine mammal behavior often includes animals competing for social position within the group and exerting dominance and aggression, which may result in minor injuries such as superficial rake marks for cetaceans and small bite injuries for pinnipeds. Incompatibility between animals can be identified by noting excessive rake or bite marks on individual animals, an animal isolating itself from the group, a change in behavior, and/or visual observations of displaced aggression.³ Considerations in managing marine mammals include seasonal hormonal changes, interspecies compatibility, illnesses of animals, or death within the group. When new marine mammals are brought into an existing group, or likewise animals leave the group due to movement within a facility or to a new facility, special care should be taken to monitor the animals closely for changes in behavior that could potentially result in incompatibility within the new social order. Feeding regimes, inexperienced trainers and staff, individual training styles, public interactions, and management practices must all be considered when aggressive incidents result in serious injury. Water quality, health status, and environmental stressors may also contribute to aggression or abnormal behavior, so these factors should be given close attention.

Each facility must have a method to identify the problem and quickly intervene in cases of serious incompatibility. This may include the separation of animals and finding more compatible groups after determining the root cause. Communication between experienced trainers, care staff, and the attending veterinarian is critically important and is vital for the animal’s welfare. Routine behavioral observations throughout the day, including during and between shows and after hours, help determine each animal’s normal behavior. Observations are key in discerning when an animal is exhibiting abnormal behavior or aggression occurring towards particular animals and are instrumental in determining overall compatibility of the group.

*Presenting author

Literature Cited

1.  7 U.S.C. § 2131 et seq.

2.  9 C.F.R. Chapter 1. Subchapter A.

3.  Clegg IL, Delfour F. Can we assess marine mammal welfare in captivity and in the wild? Considering the example of bottlenose dolphins. Aquat Mamm. 2018;44:181–200.