Animal welfare issues predominantly
focus around animals that are under human care, such as farm, zoo, laboratory
and companion animals. Wild animal welfare is often neglected, as it is viewed
that they are not our responsibility in the same manner that animals under
human care are1,2. The view is held that we do not intervene on
naturally occurring suffering, such as the predator-prey relationship. However,
due to the continual degradation of the environment caused by anthropogenic
interactions, it is felt that wild animal welfare is deserving of our attention1.
Furthermore, the welfare of wild cetaceans is severely understudied2.
Within the marine mammal research community, preference has been taken on
population, behaviour or conservation studies. Very little research on
cetaceans has been with an animal welfare focus. Therefore I will summarise
each welfare issue that is affecting wild cetaceans currently.
In Australia, 4 legal feeding sites
exist. Two in Western Australia (Bunbury and Monkey Mia) and two in Queensland
(Tin Can Bay and Moreton Island). These places have permits to hand-feed wild
dolphins, however any other feeding outside of these permits is illegal.
Studies on unregulated feeding in Monkey Mia found that calves of mothers who
were fed had a higher mortality. Mothers were less invested in rearing their
young, compared with mothers who did not take fish from people. Since the
findings, tighter regulations were put in place. However, these feeding sites
may lead people to think it is acceptable to feed cetaceans from their own
recreational vessels. Dolphins in Bunbury are often observed as “begging” at
recreational vessels. Without the supervision, it is unknown exactly what these
dolphins are being fed.
Ocean
noise3
Cetaceans use sound for navigation,
communication, hunting, socialising and avoiding predators. However the oceans
are being filled with increased anthropogenic sounds, such as drilling, navy
activity and shipping. Cetaceans are very sensitive to sound, and the increased
noise levels can be very stressful and even painful for them. In the Bahamas in
2000, 17 Curvier’s beaked whales were found stranded, with bleeding eyes and
ears, after a sonar trial by the US Navy. Ocean noise is a serious welfare
issue that has worsened over the years as people have developed high tec
equipment. But hopefully with our ingenuity, we can lower the sound of our
activities.
Capture
Cetaceans have been captured, for either
captivity, research or rescue purposes. Regardless of the motive behind it,
captures are incredibly stressful on cetaceans. The removal of them from their
natural environment, even if only temporarily, is a very traumatic experience. Even
if the animal is not intended to be harmed, the experience itself can prove
fatal. Captured animals can experience capture myopathy which is a
stress-induced muscle degenerative condition4, caused by handling
from humans. It is not uncommon for animals that have been handled to be found
dead hours, days or weeks later. The least amount of contact we have cetaceans,
the better they will fare.
Captivity5
Cetaceans do not fare well in captivity.
The most common species in captivity are bottlenose dolphins, belugas and
orcas. Many species are far too sensitive to captivity, which is why they are not
kept. However dolphins, belugas and orcas still experience compromised welfare,
despite being hardier than other species. Captive cetaceans experience social
stress, poor dental health, stereotypies, sun burn, diseases and injuries. Some
cetaceans kept alone will also experience social deprivation, which will
adversely affect highly social species.
Hunting/whaling
Whaling is a historical welfare issue
that fortunately has dramatically reduced over the years. Many whale species
were on the brink of extinction due to being overhunted. By the late 1980s most
countries had ended whaling. However a few countries continue to hunt
cetaceans. The most famous hunt in Taiji, Japan, known as drive hunting is
considered extremely brutal. Cetaceans are herded by boats into a cove, which
is then netted off. The animals are extremely panicked. Some animals are
selected for captivity or released. The ones picked for meat consumption are
killed by having a metal pin driven into their neck6. Many are rough
handled and experience broken beaks or appendages.
PCB
contamination7
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were a
harmful chemical used in many industries. They have been banned for decades but
still leak into the ocean. Through food chain accumulation, killer whales have
become the most contaminated cetacean. Samples from their blubber have
shockingly high levels in them, which was the case for Lulu, a deceased member
of the West Coast orca community that only has 8 members left. This population
has not produced a calf in the 28 years that is has been studied, likely due to
the high levels of PCB. Orcas around Gibraltar, Japan, Brazil and the
north-east Pacific are also in danger.
Ship
strike/collision
In the last 28 years, shipping traffic
has increased exponentially. There are more vessels on the water, which are
increasing in size and speed8. Many of the larger whales are being
fatally struck by vessels, due to being unable to get out of the way. Even if
not killed instantly, they will suffer from severe injuries that eventually
claim them. Small cetaceans are faster, and therefore can elude the large
vessels easier, but still face collisions with smaller vessels. Dolphins can be
struck by propellers, sometimes surviving with injury, other times not. For
cetaceans to have a chance, vessels need to reduce their speed, however this is
not in the interest of the shipping companies, which makes it a difficult issue
to tackle.
Stranding
When a cetacean is on land, this is
never a good sign. Often stranding is an indicator of poor health, or healthy
individuals can get accidently stuck. Once on land, gravity can cause cetaceans
internal organs to be crushed by their body weight, as they no longer have the
water to support their large size. Mass strandings are incredibly concerning,
as its very difficult to rescue all individuals. The majority die on land, and
any re-floated individuals often re-strand themselves. The species that is most
prone to mass strandings are pilot whales where hundreds may die in a single
event.
Feeding
In Australia, 4 legal feeding sites
exist. Two in Western Australia (Bunbury and Monkey Mia) and two in Queensland
(Tin Can Bay and Moreton Island). These places have permits to hand-feed wild
dolphins, however any other feeding outside of these permits is illegal.
Studies on unregulated feeding in Monkey Mia found that calves of mothers who
were fed had a higher mortality. Mothers were less invested in rearing their
young, compared with mothers who did not take fish from people. Since the
findings, tighter regulations were put in place. However, these feeding sites
may lead people to think it is acceptable to feed cetaceans from their own
recreational vessels. Dolphins in Bunbury are often observed as “begging” at
recreational vessels. Without the supervision, it is unknown exactly what these
dolphins are being fed.
Entanglement/plastic
pollution
Over the last few years, it has grown
increasingly apparent how devastating plastic is. Our seas are being choked, therefore,
marine animals are suffering as they come into contact with it. Large whales
are getting entangled in fishing gear, which can cause deep lacerations and
infections or starvation, and drowning. Over 300,000 cetaceans are estimated to
die annually from entanglement9. Plastic ingestion is also an
increasing problem. A sperm whale that washed up in Scotland was found with
220lbs of debris inside it10. Although this case was extraordinarily
large, it is a growing finding that many washed up whales are consuming
plastic.
Bycatch
Another historical welfare issue.
Cetaceans have been caught as bycatch for a long time. Although not intended to
be caught, the large nets meant to catch fish also entrap cetaceans,
particularly dolphins and porpoises. The world’s most endangered cetacean, the
Vaquita, is close to extinction due to bycatch. In the Gulf of California,
totoaba are being illegally harvested, and the Vaquita are getting caught in
the gillnets11. With an estimated 19 individuals remaining, it is
likely the Vaquita will vanish, like the Baiji, as a result of humans.
Research
methods
A rarely discussed welfare issue, can be
at the hands of researchers themselves. For population or genetic studies,
cetaceans are often biopsied. The cetaceans are surprised and scared when
struck by the biopsy dart. Drones are a new research tool, used to get closer
observations or samples of cetaceans. It is not yet fully understood how much
effect drones can have on cetaceans, however getting too close may cause them
alarm.
Tourism
Seeing wild cetaceans is a truly magical
experience. If going slowly and quietly, it is possible to enjoy seeing cetaceans
behave naturally. However, irresponsible boat users can be highly disturbing to
cetaceans. Getting too close or travelling too fast can cause cetaceans to
flee. In some parts of the world, the whale watching industry is not well
regulated, and cetaceans are often crowded or having their paths cut across.
Some companies also offer ‘swim with’ wild cetacean programs, where boats will
try to place guests in the water with the cetaceans. The interactions may be
forced, therefore disturbing the cetaceans.
Prey
depletion
The most famous case of prey depletion
is that of Chinook salmon in the North Pacific. For the Southern Resident
Killer whales, where 78% of their diet is made up from chinook salmon12,
it is highly concerning that salmon stocks are dwindling. Other species facing
prey depletion include humpback whales, harbour porpoises, common dolphins,
Franciscanas and Ganges river dolphins. Prey depletion is a welfare concern as
it leads to starvation and loss of body condition.
Solitary-sociableness13
There are cases of dolphins that are
solitary and taken up residency in human populated coastal areas. They may
become named by locals and approached. Interactions with humans put both the
dolphin and people at risk. Some of the welfare concerns for solitary-sociable
dolphins include disturbance, inappropriate touching and riding, propeller
strikes and illegal provisioning. Solitary-sociable dolphins are more
vulnerable as they lose their wariness of people, therefore are more at risk of
harm.
References
1/ Kirkwood JK, Sainsbury AW and Bennett PM 1994 The
welfare of free-living wild animals: methods of assessment. Animal Welfare 3: 257-273
2/ Clegg ILK and Butterworth A 2017 Marine mammal welfare: Human induced change in the marine environment
and its impacts on marine mammal welfare. Cham, Switzerland: Springer
Nature
