Cetaceans kept in North America

Austin the Sengi said:
Originally I thought they were going to use the old polar bear/harbor seal exhibit as an additional walrus habitat, and acquire a new pair of belugas to replace Nunavik and Oliver. But clearly that doesn’t seem to be the case now? It certainly seems like a very last minute decision if you ask me.
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Yes, they are expanding the Walrus habitat into the old Polar bear habitat. I meant to say Oliver temporarily moved due to the construction of that expansion.

Though there are Beluga Whales Up-Close Tours available starting March 10. Pretty interesting
IMG_3856.png
 
Austin the Sengi said:
Well then, until we have more concrete evidence on the subject. For the time being, I will not remove SeaWorld Orlando as a current beluga holder; just in case if they unexpectedly end up getting belugas again.
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Looking back, I’m glad to report that SeaWorld Orlando has continued to display belugas. For the park received two new males in place of the ones they transferred; and based on my latest visit this past Sunday. The new whales seemed to be right at home in Wild Arctic.
 
While there isn’t much else to add that hasn’t been mentioned elsewhere, it should noted that at the bottom of this post is a list of holders that may or will be going out of cetaceans in the near future. Additionally, I have also removed the Wholphin from the list, since I now want this thread to only list genetically pure species:


Orca (Orcinus orca) - 3 holders

USA:
• SeaWorld Orlando
• SeaWorld San Antonio
• SeaWorld San Diego


Short-Finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) - 1 holder

USA:
• SeaWorld San Diego


Beluga Whale (Delphinapterus leucas) - 7 holders

USA:
• SeaWorld Orlando
• SeaWorld San Antonio
• SeaWorld San Diego
• Mystic Aquarium
• Georgia Aquarium
• Shedd Aquarium

Ex-US:
Canada:
• Marineland Canada*


Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus / aduncus / “erebennus” / etc.) - 53 holders*

USA (includes Hawaii):
• Brookfield Zoo
• Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA)
• Discovery Cove
• Dolphin Research Center
• Dolphin Connection
• Dolphin Plus - (Bayside)
• Dolphin Plus - (Marine Mammal Responder)
• Dolphin Quest Hawaii*
• Dolphin Quest Oahu*
• Epcot*
• Georgia Aquarium
• Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park
• Gulf World Marine Park
• Indianapolis Zoo
• Institute for Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS)
• Island Dolphin Care
• Long Marine Lab
• Marineland Dolphin Adventure
• Miami Seaquarium
• Mississippi Aquarium
• National Aquarium - (Baltimore)
• Sea Life Park Hawaii**
• SeaWorld Orlando
• SeaWorld San Antonio
• SeaWorld San Diego
• Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
• Theater of the Sea
• Texas State Aquarium

Ex-US:
Canada:
• Marineland Canada - (T. t. ponticus)

Mexico:
• Dolphin Discovery - (Cozumel)
• Dolphin Discovery - (Playa Del Carmen)
• Dolphin Discovery - (Riviera Maya)
• Dolphin Discovery - (Isla Mujeres)
• Dolphin Discovery - (Tulum-Akumal)
• Dolphin Discovery - (Puerto Vallarta)
• Delphinus - (Punta Cancun)
• Delphinus - (Playa Mujeres)
• Delphinus - (Puerto Morelos)
• Delphinus - (Riviera Maya)
• Delphinus - (Xcaret)
• Delphinus - (Xel-Há)
• Interactive Aquarium Cancún

Miscellaneous (mostly Caribbean):
• Atlantis Bahamas
• Balmoral Island - (Bahamas)
• Blue Lagoon Island - (Bahamas)
• Curaçao Sea Aquarium
• Dolphin Cove Cayman
• Dolphin Discovery - (Ocho Rios)
• Dolphin Discovery - (Montego Bay)
• Dolphin Discovery - (Grand Cayman)
• Dolphin Discovery - (Punta Cana)
• Dolphin Discovery - (Saint Kitts)
• Dolphin Explorer - (Punta Cana)
• Dolphin Quest - (Bermuda)

(*soon to be 52)


Pacific White-Sided Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) - 2 holders

USA:
• SeaWorld San Antonio
• Shedd Aquarium


Rough-Toothed Dolphin (Steno bredanensis) - 2 holders

USA:
• Gulf World Marine Park
• Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA)


Commerson’s Dolphin (Cephalorhynchus commersonii) - 1 holder

USA:
• Aquatica Orlando


Atlantic Spotted Dolphin (Stenella frontalis) - 1 holder

USA:
• Dolphin Research Center



• Epcot* - (will phase out Bottlenose Dolphins later this month)

• Miami Seaquarium* - (depends on if this facility does end up closing for good)

• Marineland Canada* - (same situation as Miami)

(* all Atlantic - T. truncatus)
(** Atlantic + Pacific - T. truncatus / aduncus)
(underline/bold - newly added facility)
(underline/asterisk - facilities with an uncertain future)
 
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A quick internet search from Mexico shows other swim with the dolphins facility in Cienfuegos, Cuba and an also in Cayo Santa María, Cuba.
 
With the assistance of fellow Carlos, and some online research on relatively obscure, tourist-focused dolphin facilities across Cuba and Mexico. This new influx of bottlenose dolphin holders, regardless of their genetic identity, continue to be extremely varied!

Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus / aduncus / “erebennus” / etc.) - 61 holders*

Ex-US:
Mexico:
• Delfinario - (Sonora)
• Dolphin Connection - (Cancun)

Cuba:
• Acuario Nacional de Cuba - (Havana)
• Delfinario - (Varadero)
• Cienfuegos Dolphinarium - (Playa Rancho Luna)
• Acuario Delfinario - (Cayo Santa María)
• Delfinario - (Cayo Blanca)
• Delfinario - (Cayo Guillermo)

(*for now)
 
Now that Epcot’s bottlenose dolphins have made the move to the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park. I found it fitting to come back to this thread and to list the following new holders alongside the removal of Epcot entirely:


Orca (Orcinus orca) - 3 holders

USA:
• SeaWorld Orlando
• SeaWorld San Antonio
• SeaWorld San Diego


Short-Finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) - 1 holder

USA:
• SeaWorld San Diego


Beluga Whale (Delphinapterus leucas) - 7 holders

USA:
• SeaWorld Orlando
• SeaWorld San Antonio
• SeaWorld San Diego
• Mystic Aquarium
• Georgia Aquarium
• Shedd Aquarium

Ex-US:
Canada:
• Marineland Canada*


Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus / aduncus / “erebennus” / etc.) - 61 holders*

USA (includes Hawaii):
• Brookfield Zoo
• Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA)
• Discovery Cove
• Dolphin Research Center
• Dolphin Connection
• Dolphin Plus - (Bayside)
• Dolphin Plus - (Marine Mammal Responder)
• Dolphin Quest Hawaii*
• Dolphin Quest Oahu*
• Georgia Aquarium
• Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park
• Gulf World Marine Park
• Indianapolis Zoo
• Institute for Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS)
• Island Dolphin Care
• Long Marine Lab
• Marineland Dolphin Adventure
• Miami Seaquarium*
• Mississippi Aquarium
• National Aquarium - (Baltimore)
• Sea Life Park Hawaii**
• SeaWorld Orlando
• SeaWorld San Antonio
• SeaWorld San Diego
• Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
• Theater of the Sea
• Texas State Aquarium

Ex-US:
Canada:
• Marineland Canada - (T. t. ponticus)

Mexico:
• Dolphin Discovery - (Cozumel)
• Dolphin Discovery - (Playa Del Carmen)
• Dolphin Discovery - (Riviera Maya)
• Dolphin Discovery - (Isla Mujeres)
• Dolphin Discovery - (Tulum-Akumal)
• Dolphin Discovery - (Puerto Vallarta)
• Delphinus - (Punta Cancun)
• Delphinus - (Playa Mujeres)
• Delphinus - (Puerto Morelos)
• Delphinus - (Riviera Maya)
• Delphinus - (Xcaret)
• Delphinus - (Xel-Há)
• Interactive Aquarium Cancún
• Delfinario - (Sonora)
• Dolphin Connection - (Cancun)

Cuba:
• Acuario Nacional de Cuba - (Havana)
• Delfinario - (Varadero)
• Cienfuegos Dolphinarium - (Playa Rancho Luna)
• Acuario Delfinario - (Cayo Santa María)
• Delfinario - (Cayo Blanca)
• Delfinario - (Cayo Guillermo)

Miscellaneous (mostly Caribbean):
• Atlantis Bahamas
• Balmoral Island - (Bahamas)
• Blue Lagoon Island - (Bahamas)
• Curaçao Sea Aquarium
• Dolphin Cove Cayman
• Dolphin Discovery - (Ocho Rios)
• Dolphin Discovery - (Montego Bay)
• Dolphin Discovery - (Grand Cayman)
• Dolphin Discovery - (Punta Cana)
• Dolphin Discovery - (Saint Kitts)
• Dolphin Explorer - (Punta Cana)
• Dolphin Quest - (Bermuda)


Pacific White-Sided Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) - 2 holders

USA:
• SeaWorld San Antonio
• Shedd Aquarium


Rough-Toothed Dolphin (Steno bredanensis) - 2 holders

USA:
• Gulf World Marine Park
• Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA)


Commerson’s Dolphin (Cephalorhynchus commersonii) - 1 holder

USA:
• Aquatica Orlando


Atlantic Spotted Dolphin (Stenella frontalis) - 1 holder

USA:
• Dolphin Research Center


Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis) - 1 holder

USA:
• SeaWorld San Diego



• Miami Seaquarium* - (depends on if this facility does end up closing for good)

• Marineland Canada* - (same situation as Miami)

(* all Atlantic - T. truncatus)
(** Atlantic + Pacific - T. truncatus / aduncus)
(underline/bold - newly added facility)
(underline/asterisk - facilities with an uncertain future)
 
Wanted to report that Juan, a 47 year old male Commerson’s dolphin is being reported dead by visitors of Aquatica. He was one of the original wild-stock for the US population, siring 9 calves and living well past the wild average lifespan of 10 years. This leaves Aquatica Orlando with 2 dolphins left, the last individuals outside of Japan.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DFkkzk6R-zU/?img_index=1&igsh=aWRqaW41Yjd1NnZr
 
That’s very unfortunate news, for when I participated in a special encounter last November; I don’t think it crossed my mind that it became the last time I would see all three dolphins alive.

It really comes to show how bleak their future presence in captivity truly is, and I suppose the numbers of Commerson’s Dolphins in Japan aren’t doing that great either, if I’m not mistaken.
 
Austin the Sengi said:
It really comes to show how bleak their future presence in captivity truly is, and I suppose the numbers of Commerson’s Dolphins in Japan aren’t doing that great either, if I’m not mistaken.
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There's currently 3.3 Commerson's at 2 facilities in Japan; they've actually been reproducing every 1-3 years continually since exhibition began in 1987, but calves born since 2011 have been overwhelmingly if not entirely male (two calves born in 2019 have unknown sexes), and survival to maturity is abysmally low. The remaining females are aging (aged 23 - 33 — only the 23-year-old has produced calves since 2019). The most recent calf was born in 2023.
 
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{UPDATE}; as of 02/04/2025


Orca (Orcinus orca) - 3 holders

USA:
• SeaWorld Orlando
• SeaWorld San Antonio
• SeaWorld San Diego


Short-Finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) - 1 holder

USA:
• SeaWorld San Diego


Beluga Whale (Delphinapterus leucas) - 7 holders

USA:
• SeaWorld Orlando
• SeaWorld San Antonio
• SeaWorld San Diego
• Mystic Aquarium
• Georgia Aquarium
• Shedd Aquarium

Ex-US:
Canada:
• Marineland Canada*


Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus / aduncus / “erebennus” / etc.) - 60 holders*

USA (includes Hawaii):
• Brookfield Zoo
• Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA)
• Discovery Cove
• Dolphin Research Center
• Dolphin Connection
• Dolphin Plus - (Bayside)
• Dolphin Plus - (Marine Mammal Responder)
• Dolphin Quest Hawaii - T. truncatus
• Dolphin Quest Oahu - T. truncatus
• Georgia Aquarium
• Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park
• Indianapolis Zoo
• Institute for Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS)
• Island Dolphin Care
• Long Marine Lab
• Marineland Dolphin Adventure
• Miami Seaquarium*
• Mississippi Aquarium
• National Aquarium - (Baltimore)
• Sea Life Park Hawaii - T. tursiops + T. aduncus
• SeaWorld Orlando
• SeaWorld San Antonio
• SeaWorld San Diego
• Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
• Theater of the Sea
• Texas State Aquarium

Ex-US:
Canada:
• Marineland Canada* - T. t. ponticus

Mexico:
• Dolphin Discovery - (Cozumel)
• Dolphin Discovery - (Playa Del Carmen)
• Dolphin Discovery - (Riviera Maya)
• Dolphin Discovery - (Isla Mujeres)
• Dolphin Discovery - (Tulum-Akumal)
• Dolphin Discovery - (Puerto Vallarta)
• Delphinus - (Punta Cancun)
• Delphinus - (Playa Mujeres)
• Delphinus - (Puerto Morelos)
• Delphinus - (Riviera Maya)
• Delphinus - (Xcaret)
• Delphinus - (Xel-Há)
• Interactive Aquarium Cancún
• Delfinario - (Sonora)
• Dolphin Connection - (Cancun)

Cuba:
• Acuario Nacional de Cuba - (Havana)
• Delfinario - (Varadero)
• Cienfuegos Dolphinarium - (Playa Rancho Luna)
• Acuario Delfinario - (Cayo Santa María)
• Delfinario - (Cayo Blanca)
• Delfinario - (Cayo Guillermo)

Miscellaneous (mostly Caribbean):
• Atlantis Bahamas
• Balmoral Island - (Bahamas)
• Blue Lagoon Island - (Bahamas)
• Curaçao Sea Aquarium
• Dolphin Cove Cayman
• Dolphin Discovery - (Ocho Rios)
• Dolphin Discovery - (Montego Bay)
• Dolphin Discovery - (Grand Cayman)
• Dolphin Discovery - (Punta Cana)
• Dolphin Discovery - (Saint Kitts)
• Dolphin Explorer - (Punta Cana)
• Dolphin Quest - (Bermuda)


Pacific White-Sided Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) - 2 holders

USA:
• SeaWorld San Antonio
• Shedd Aquarium


Rough-Toothed Dolphin (Steno bredanensis) - 1 holder

USA:
• Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA)


Commerson’s Dolphin (Cephalorhynchus commersonii) - 1 holder

USA:
• Aquatica Orlando


Atlantic Spotted Dolphin (Stenella frontalis) - 1 holder

USA:
• Dolphin Research Center


Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis) - 1 holder

USA:
• SeaWorld San Diego - D. d. bairdii


(black; underline/bold - newly added facility)
(red; underline/asterisk - facilities with an uncertain future)
 
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As far as I know Sea Life Park Hawaii does not currently have any false killer whales. Only a hybrid false killer whale x bottlenose dolphin and that hybrid’s calf (back cross with a bottlenose dolphin).

edit: Gulf World is a second rough toothed dolphin holder
 
@BlobfishBoy, Gulf World Marine Park recently filed for bankruptcy, hence their absence on this list.

Additionally, I forgot that Sea Life Park only maintains a false killer whale-hybrid, so they will be removed indefinitely.
 
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