Special Issue Survey of Cetaceans in Captive Care

Aquatic Mammals 2005, 31(3), 320-325, DOI 10.1578/AM.31.3.2005.3204. Types and Functions of Pools and EnclosuresAccording to their location, climate, and function,cetacean facilities present a wide variety of shapes,sizes, styles, and materials. Recent constructioninnovations have allowed new freedom of creativity.The trend towards more naturalistic habitats inzoos is reaching marine mammal exhibits at last.Cetaceans, as compared to pinnipeds or polar bears,are perhaps the last to benefit from this trend. Thedesign of the habitat and the quality of the environmentalenrichment are essential to the managementof thriving groups of animals and successfulexhibits (Doherty & Gibbons, 1994; Stoskopf &Gibbons, 1994). Before detailing the architecturalfeatures of the habitats for dolphins and whales inthe next chapter, it seemed important to present thevarious types of existing environments. With therising development of a wide variety of interactiveprogrammes, such as Swim-With-The-Dolphin(SWTD), Dolphin Assisted Therapy (DAT), feedingand petting dolphins, and Very ImportantPerson’s (VIP) educational programmes, in additionto the traditional show, cetacean habitats anddisplays have become more naturalistic (Samuels& Spradlin, 1994; survey). Allen (1996), in WildMammals in Captivity, stated that “Visitors arelikely to have more favourable impressions of ‘natural’exhibits, which, if appropriately designed,can do much to educate and inform them. Thechallenge to zoos, however, is the construction ofenvironments that not only appeal to visitors, butalso fulfil the real needs of the animals living inthem. . . . Animals in zoos are neither ‘wild’ nortruly domesticated.”Dolphins are perhaps in the process of beingdomesticated; it especially may be true for secondand third generations born in captivity. Even so, itis the role of the management to ensure that they aregiven every opportunity to retain, if not their wildnature, their social and behavioural characteristics.Often, architects and designers are more interestedin responding to the needs of the visitors,especially aesthetically, than the needs of the animalsand staff. Their role is to listen to managementstrategies, husbandry considerations andrequirements; to become impregnated by the clearspecifications established by the curatorial teambefore imposing any preconceived view; and totry to combine aesthetically appealing design withsafety and welfare considerations.This chapter presents definitions of the varioustypes of habitat in which cetaceans are housedas well as the function of these various types ofpools, and the terms used to name them. Theseterms, employed by the surveyed and visitedfacilities, will be used in the following chapters.Rescue facilities are omitted in this chapter. Theyare designed in a different manner from displayand research facilities; they are purely rescue andrehabilitation oriented. Insufficient data on theirdesign were received from the international surveyof cetacean facilities for them to be described.Size recommendations were voluntarily omittedbecause they should not contradict local regulations.Regulations usually provide the minimumrequired dimensions and are based on the averagebody dimensions of animals. Adequate surfacearea and volume of pools should be determined incompliance with regulations; however, individualsof the species or subspecies regionally mayexceed these given dimensions, sometimes by ameter. It is therefore recommended that regulationsbe exceeded in the best interest of the animals,the staff, and the visitors.Types of EnvironmentsTwo main categories of cetacean habitats havebeen defined: (1) natural environments and(2) artificial environments. The terms “enclosure”or “lagoon” refer to natural environments, and theterm “pool” refers to the artificial environment.Natural EnvironmentsCetaceans kept in habitats defined as a naturalenvironment are housed in fenced sea enclosures.The aquatic environment of cetaceans kept innatural facilities is the sea; riverine species arekept in freshwater enclosures. These systems cansustain living organisms such as fish, crustaceans,invertebrates, sea grass, and algae, thus offeringcetaceans a greater variety of interactions withtheir environment. This environment is financiallyeconomical because it does not require a filtrationsystem and expensive construction work.The choice of site for a sea-pen type facility iscritical since water quality cannot be controlled.The main disadvantage of natural facilities is thelack of protection against hazards; extreme climaticevents; tidal waves; and pollution such asoil spills, drifting objects, and human-made noise.Some facilities have been severely damaged andanimals injured or lost because of cyclones, and© 2005 EAAM