Marine Mammal Captivity in the northeastern Caribbean, with Notes on the Rehabilitation of Stranded Whales, Dolphins, and Manatees

摘要

Marine mammals have been of interest to zoos and aquaria since the middle of the eighteenth century. With increasingly successful captive maintenance since the 1960s, a greater demand for captive whales, dolphins, manatees and sea lions has developed, at times threatening local populations. This study documents captivity records in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Eight species have been kept captive for research, rehabilitation, or public display, including 16 Tursiops truncatus, 2 Stenella frontalis, 1 Steno bre- danensis, 1 Stenella longirostris, 1 Grampus griseus, 1 Physeter macrocephalus, 9 Trichechus manatus, and 12 Zalophus californianus. Five manatees as well as five cetaceans have been rescued and kept rehabilitation, Of which three manatees have been successfully returned to sea.