Nov 19, 2025 · While an upright dorsal fin is the natural state for a healthy orca, a significant majority of captive adult male orcas display a fin that is severely folded over. This condition immediately draws …

Aug 22, 2025 · Explore the reasons behind dorsal fin collapse in captive orcas, a key indicator of their health and environmental challenges.

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.

Nov 23, 2025 · The bent or collapsed dorsal fin seen in many captive orcas is primarily due to the unnatural conditions of their captivity, including limited space, repetitive behaviors, and altered …

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.

Aug 22, 2023 · Some orca whales have collapsed dorsal fins, although most are captive whales. There are a few theories as to why some orca dorsal fins collapse. One theory is that orca whales in …

Dec 5, 2024 · Though drooping dorsal fins are occasionally seen in wild orcas, it does seem more common among captive animals – especially the longer-finned males. It’s not entirely clear why.

Aug 27, 2023 · The Whale and Dolphin Conservation says that dorsal fin collapse is largely explained by captive killer whales swimming in small circles due to the inadequate space in which they have to …

Nov 2, 2025 · Orca dorsal fin collapse signals serious health issues, especially in captivity. Discover its causes and implications for killer whale health.

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.