A population of orcas, also known as killer whales, lives under human care in marine parks and aquariums worldwide. The practice of keeping orcas in captivity has evolved over decades, leading to a specific global distribution. This article provides an overview of the current number of orcas in captivity, detailing their locations and origins.
Global Orca Population in Captivity
As of late August 2025, approximately 54 killer whales are held in captivity across 14 facilities globally. This total includes both wild-caught individuals and those born within human care. The majority of these captive orcas originated from breeding programs, with 33 individuals born in captivity, while 22 were initially captured from wild populations. An additional two animals were the result of stranding or rescue efforts where they were deemed non-releasable.
China currently houses the largest captive orca population, with 24 individuals spread across four different locations, including Chimelong Spaceship, Shanghai Haichang, SunAsia Beluga Whale World, and Wuxi Changqiao Killer Whale World. Following China, the United States maintains the second-largest population, with 17 orcas residing in its three SeaWorld parks located in Orlando, San Antonio, and San Diego. This represents a recent development where China has surpassed the United States in its number of captive orcas.
Japan is home to seven captive orcas, distributed among three marine parks: Kamogawa Sea World, Kobe Suma Sea World, and Port of Nagoya Aquarium. In Europe, Spain’s Loro Parque houses four orcas, while Marineland Antibes in France holds two. Beyond these major concentrations, a single orca is located at the Moskvarium in Russia, and another at Mundo Marino in Argentina.
Primary Facilities Housing Orcas
The captive orca population is concentrated in key marine parks and aquariums, serving as centers for public display and research. SeaWorld operates three facilities in the United States. These parks have historically played a significant role in the captive orca population in North America.
In China, major venues like Chimelong Spaceship in Zhuhai, Shanghai Haichang, SunAsia Beluga Whale World, and Wuxi Changqiao Killer Whale World represent the country’s increasing prominence in the global captive cetacean industry. Europe and Asia also host notable orca habitats. Loro Parque in Tenerife, Spain, and Marineland Antibes in France are notable European facilities. In Japan, Kamogawa Sea World, Kobe Suma Sea World, and the Port of Nagoya Aquarium are key locations. The Moskvarium in Russia and Mundo Marino in Argentina each house a single orca.
Origins of Captive Orcas
Orcas have entered human care through two primary methods: wild captures and breeding programs. The practice of capturing wild orcas for exhibition began in the 1960s, driven by increasing commercial demand for these charismatic animals. Early captures often occurred in the Northeastern Pacific, with significant events like the Penn Cove captures in Washington state in 1970, where multiple orcas were taken, and some died during the process.
Following public outcry and the enactment of protective legislation like the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act in 1972, wild captures in U.S. waters largely ceased. The focus then shifted to other regions, particularly Icelandic waters from the mid-1970s to the late 1980s, where dozens of orcas were captured and sold to parks worldwide. More recently, since 2010, captures have occurred in Russian waters, with some individuals exported to facilities in China.
As wild captures became more restricted, captive breeding programs gained importance in maintaining and growing the captive population. The first successful birth of an orca calf in captivity was Kalina, born at SeaWorld Orlando in September 1985. Over time, techniques such as artificial insemination were developed to manage genetic diversity within captive populations, with the first such birth occurring at SeaWorld San Diego in 2001. Today, the majority of captive orcas are born under human care.
Trends in Captive Orca Populations
The overall number of orcas in captivity has experienced notable shifts over time, reflecting changes in public sentiment, legislation, and industry practices. After peaking in the late 20th century, the captive population in Western countries has generally seen a decline. This trend is significantly influenced by the cessation of wild captures in many regions, particularly in the United States, decades ago.
A major turning point occurred in 2016 when SeaWorld, a prominent holder of captive orcas, announced the end of its orca breeding program. This decision, influenced by public scrutiny and the impact of documentaries, meant that the orcas then in their care would be the last generation at SeaWorld parks. While this halted new births in some facilities, the overall global numbers have been sustained and even increased in other regions.
The decline in Western captive populations has been offset by a rise in Asia, particularly in China. New facilities have opened there, acquiring orcas primarily through Russian captures and their own breeding efforts. This dynamic has led to China now housing the largest number of captive orcas globally, illustrating a geographical shift in the industry rather than a complete global phasing out of orca captivity.