Author Archives: Helene O'Barry

Dolphins at Vallarta Adventures are confined in small concrete tanks, stripped of any natural habitat, space, or stimulation. Forced into extreme confinement, deprived of normal social interactions, and exposed to constant human handling, they show signs of chronic stress and tremendous suffering—all so tourists can be entertained and the facility can profit from their exploitation. Credit: Empty the Tanks Mexico

06Apr

Blog, Campaigns, Captivity Industry | Posts by : Helene O'Barry

Dolphins in Distress at Vallarta Adventures

Posts by : Helene O'Barry

For decades, Mexico’s beautiful coastlines and turquoise waters have drawn tourists from around the world. Beneath the promise of sun, leisure, and

According to online reports, Sumar's mother, Taima, showed aggression toward him when he was still very young, and he was eventually separated from her. Credit: Katerina Studios; Inherently Wild: https://inherentlywild.co.uk/sumars-gallery/

23Mar

Blog, Campaigns, Captivity Industry | Posts by : Helene O'Barry

One Dolphins Story: Sumar

Posts by : Helene O'Barry

Sumar was born on May 14, 1998, at SeaWorld Orlando. His mother, Taima, was born in captivity, and his father, Tilikum, was

When we inspected Kolmården Zoo's dolphinarium several years ago, we found dolphins confined to a stark, indoor amphitheater filled with chlorinated water, cut off from even the most basic elements of nature. Since the facility — ironically named Marine World — opened in 1969, dozens of dolphins, including several captured in the wild, have died there.

11Mar

Blog, Campaigns, Captivity Industry | Posts by : Helene O'Barry

Kolmården Dolphinarium Fails Inspection

Posts by : Helene O'Barry

Kolmården Dolphinarium in Sweden is facing criticism after an unannounced inspection, according to a Swedish news outlet named SVT. The Östergötland County

WIld dolphins swimming freely, demonstrating the highly evolved social, navigational, and physical behaviors that cannot be replicated in captivity. Licensed under Pixaby content license.

02Mar

Blog, Campaigns, Captivity Industry | Posts by : Helene O'Barry

Why Captive Dolphins are Nothing Like Having a Dog

Posts by : Helene O'Barry

I hear this comparison often: “I have a dog at home. My dog is happy, loved, and lives in my house. Isn’t

Naya, who is the last survivor of three wild-caught orcas at Moskvarium in Russia, gave birth on December 29th 2023. The calf, a female, died just 28 days later, on January 26th. With the death of her daughter, Naya is once again all alone. Moskvarium opened to the public in August 2015 with a young male named Nord and two young female orcas named Narnia and Juliette. (”Juliette” was Naya’s previous stage name.) They were captured during the period 2012-2014, and both Narnia and Nord have since died. CREDIT: Moskvarium; Inherently Wild: https://inherentlywild.co.uk/najas-gallery/

18Feb

Blog, Campaigns, Captivity Industry | Posts by : Helene O'Barry

Wild-Caught Orcas: Captivity’s Lasting Toll

Posts by : Helene O'Barry

Orca captures in the United States, Canada, and Iceland stopped decades ago. But even after captures ended, the consequences continue to shape

Beached on the concrete floor of the show stadium, this dolphin is forced into an environment completely unnatural for his abilities and behaviors. Lifelong confinement reduces these ocean-roaming predators to mere props for human entertainment. With everything science tells us about dolphins’ astounding intelligence, highly evolved communication skills, and complex foraging techniques, it is preposterous that it is still legal to confine them under such outdated and poor conditions. Credit: Waves Not Walls

10Feb

Blog, Campaigns, Captivity Industry | Posts by : Helene O'Barry

Captive Dolphins in Malta: No Science, No Ethics

Posts by : Helene O'Barry

In September 2025, Mediterraneo Marine Park in Malta underwent an official inspection. Months later, members of the Waves Not Walls campaign received

Wild orcas move through the ocean guided by their own knowledge, experience, and social bonds. This individual, part of a coordinated hunt, demonstrates strength, power, and purpose that can never exist in captivity. In marine parks, orcas are confined to concrete show arenas, their days dictated by training sessions and performances, their intelligence and skills reduced to routines for spectators. The raw vitality of a wild orca could not be more different from the controlled, predictable lives of those held in tanks.

28Jan

Blog, Campaigns, Captivity Industry | Posts by : Helene O'Barry

Space Between Us

Posts by : Helene O'Barry

I was on a boat off Norway in the winter when we were fortunate to see a pod of orcas. The sea

Katina was made to perform and produce offspring at SeaWorld, all under the guise of teaching respect for nature. In truth, her life was spent in concrete tanks, far from her pod and the ocean off Iceland she was meant to call home. Credit: @cetabaker, Inherently Wild: https://inherentlywild.co.uk

14Jan

Blog, Campaigns, Captivity Industry | Posts by : Helene O'Barry

Katina: Half a Century Stolen

Posts by : Helene O'Barry

The captive orca Katina died at 50 at SeaWorld Orlando on December 20, 2025—half a century stolen. Her life stands as a testament to the wrongs

Dolphins trapped and killed in Taiji's Cove. It's a brutal, barbaric practice that leaves no doubt about the suffering inflicted.

11Dec

Blog, Campaigns, Japan | Posts by : Helene O'Barry

Taiji: Nothing Justifies This Level of Cruelty

Posts by : Helene O'Barry

Whenever we post footage of the dolphin drive hunts in Taiji, Japan, some people immediately reach for the same predictable defenses: “Well,

In the wild, orcas are apex predators that hunt cooperatively, relying on intelligence, communication, and teamwork to catch their food. In captivity, however, orcas like Tekoa have no choice in how to feed themselves and depend entirely on their trainers, highlighting the unnatural restrictions of life in tanks. Credit: Philip Coburn (provided by Sara Farrell); Inherently Wild: https://inherentlywild.co.uk

08Dec

Blog, Campaigns, Captivity Industry | Posts by : Helene O'Barry

Tekoa at Loro Parque: 25 Years Trapped

Posts by : Helene O'Barry

Tekoa at Loro Parque recently turned 25, a milestone that masks a lifetime spent in captivity. He was born on November 8th,

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