May 4, 2025 · Learn why a killer whale's dorsal fin collapses or flops over when in captivity and whether this happens in whales — or orcas — that live in the wild.

May 9, 2025 · While a collapsed dorsal fin does occur in wild killer whales, it is uncommon. Most captive orcas have a bent dorsal fin and the reasons why affect their welfare.

Although dorsal fin collapse is not unique to captivity, it is far more common in confinement. In the wild, the condition varies from population to population.

Dorsal fin collapse – orcas kept in tanks spend most of their time swimming in endless circles, causing their tall dorsal fins to collapse to one side. Dorsal fin collapse has been observed in …

Contrary to popular belief, the bending of dorsal fins in orcas has been observed in both wild and captive populations. There’s still a lot of debate as to why this happens, but biologists think …

Orcas in captivity may develop physical pathologies, such as the dorsal fin collapse seen in 80–90% of captive males. The captive environment bears little resemblance to their wild …

Learn about orca dorsal fin collapse in captivity vs. the wild—causes, effects, and why it highlights animal welfare concerns in marine parks.

At least 160 orcas have died in captivity, even more if stillbirths are counted. However even among the survivors, health issues are abound. Most notably are the dorsal fin collapse in …

Jan 20, 2021 · Limited time below the surface creates less support for the dorsal fin which over time will collapse as the captive Orca find themselves at the surface 70-80% of the time.

Sep 11, 2025 · The prevalence of dorsal fin collapse in captive orcas raises serious ethical questions about the welfare of these animals in captivity. It serves as a visible indicator of the …