Born free: why cetaceans belong in the wild

The ancient ocean danced to the melody of whales, who have called this planet home for 50 million years. However, humans hunted 90% of the global whale population until a commercial whaling ban was put in place in 1986. Although whale numbers are slowly recovering, there remains a further obstacle for whale and dolphin conservation: freeing all cetaceans from captivity.

There is no debate that keeping cetaceans in captivity is an extremely cruel practice. This practice fuels wild whale and dolphin hunts (such as the infamous Taji hunt in Japan), as they are often snatched away from the wild and their family to be put in captivity. Aquarium tanks can in no way mimic their natural habitat. Whales and dolphins are highly intelligent and socially complex creatures that have evolved over millions of years to thrive in the open ocean. They travel vast distances and form life-long bonds with their families. Confining them into small tanks in aquariums denies them the ability to engage in natural behaviours and leads to physical and psychological distress. This is equivalent to subjecting a human being to solitary confinement for life. To force these creatures to perform in the name of conservation is perverse.

As a responsible and ethical travel business, we do not feature any activities that involve captive cetaceans. However, many major online travel platforms and package tour providers continue to sell tickets to this cruel activity; a damning reflection of the tourism industry. As a responsible traveller, visiting aquariums that keep captive cetaceans perpetuates a cycle of exploitation and contributes to the suffering of these animals. Instead, it is far more rewarding to see these majestic animals in their natural habitat whilst supporting responsible tour operators and conservation efforts that prioritise their well-being.

We are a strong supporter of the #EmptyTheTanks movement and we advocate for the closure of marine parks and the release of captive cetaceans into sanctuaries or their natural habitats. We are lucky to be able to work with some amazing tour operators from Iceland to Australia offering whale and dolphin-watching tours. Let’s join forces to end whale and dolphin shows and to EmptyTheTanks. Let’s dare to do good so that all lives are born free.