History of Toothed whale in Timeline

Toothed whales, including dolphins, porpoises, and sperm whales, are a diverse parvorder of cetaceans with 73 known species. They are characterized by the presence of teeth, distinguishing them from baleen whales, which have baleen plates for filter feeding. The evolutionary divergence between these two groups is estimated to have occurred approximately 34 million years ago.

1946: Post-World War II Sperm Whale Population Decline

The sperm whale population, which had shown some recovery by 1946, declined again after World War II when whaling resumed its focus on the species.

1980: End of Major Sperm Whale Whaling Era

By 1980, at least 770,000 sperm whales had been killed by whaling, with the majority of those occurring between 1946 and 1980. This marked the end of a major whaling era.

August 1989: Orca Aggression Leads to Fatality at SeaWorld

In August 1989, a stark reminder of the dangers of keeping orcas in captivity emerged when Kandu V, a dominant female orca, fatally injured herself while attacking another orca during a live show.

1995: Television Test Suggests Dolphin Self-Awareness

In 1995, Marten and Psarakos used television to test self-awareness in dolphins. The results of their study suggested that dolphins might possess self-awareness rather than simply exhibiting social behavior.

October 1999: Footage of Dolphin Hunt in Futo, Japan

In October 1999, footage of a dolphin hunt and slaughter in Futo, Japan, was captured by the Japanese animal welfare organization Elsa Nature Conservancy, sparking criticism and raising awareness.

2004: Baiji Declared Functionally Extinct

The baiji was declared functionally extinct in 2004 due to severe pollution in the Yangtze River, with the last sighting occurring that year.

November 2006: Trainer Dragged by Orca at SeaWorld

Concerns about orca aggression in captivity resurfaced in November 2006 when a dominant female killer whale, Kasatka, dragged an experienced trainer underwater during a show at SeaWorld.

2007: Discovery of Elongated Spindle Neurons in Dolphins

Prior to 2007, elongated spindle neurons were only known to exist in hominids. In 2007, they were discovered in the neocortex of many dolphin species. These neurons are found in similar brain regions as in humans and are believed to play a role in social behavior and advanced cognitive functions.

2009: Release of "The Cove" Documentary

The documentary "The Cove," which criticized dolphin hunts in Japan, was released in 2009 and brought further attention to the issue.

February 2010: SeaWorld Trainer Killed by Orca

Tragedy struck SeaWorld Orlando in February 2010 when an experienced female trainer, Dawn Brancheau, was killed by the orca Tilikum, who had been linked to two previous deaths. This event ignited further debate about the ethics and safety of keeping orcas in captivity.

2010: Study Suggests Cooperative Hunting in Female Sperm Whales

A 2010 study proposed that female sperm whales may cooperate when hunting Humboldt squid.

2011: Analysis of Japanese Dolphin Hunting Footage

A veterinary team's analysis of a 2011 video showing Japanese hunters killing striped dolphins suggested that the method used might not result in immediate death as officially claimed.

May 2012: SeaWorld Fined and Cited for Safety Violations

Following the death of Dawn Brancheau, in May 2012, SeaWorld faced penalties for safety violations. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration imposed a fine and restricted trainers from close contact with orcas.

2012: Orca in Captivity

As of 2012, only 44 orcas were held in captivity in aquaria, a significantly smaller number compared to bottlenose dolphins.

2012: Support for Cetacean Bill of Rights at AAAS Meeting

At the 2012 American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting, support was expressed for a cetacean bill of rights, classifying cetaceans as nonhuman persons.

December 2013: Blackfish Documentary Sparks Controversy and Boycotts

The release of "Blackfish" in 2013, a documentary critical of SeaWorld's treatment of orcas, brought the controversy to new heights. The film's impact led to boycotts, concert cancellations by major artists, and prompted SeaWorld to launch a campaign to counter the film's claims.

2013: Release of "Blackfish" Documentary and Criticism of SeaWorld

The release of the documentary "Blackfish" in 2013 led to increased criticism of SeaWorld for its practices regarding orca captivity.

April 2014: SeaWorld's Appeal Denied

In April 2014, legal challenges pursued by SeaWorld regarding the safety violations and imposed restrictions faced a setback. The US Court of Appeals upheld the earlier rulings, signifying a potential turning point in regulations concerning orcas in captivity.