Vocal activity as a welfare indicator in killer whales in managed care

Javier Almunia^1*Jonas Philipp Lüke²Fernando Luis Rosa González²

• ¹Loro Parque Foundation, Puerto de la Cruz, Spain
• ²University of La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain

Acoustic communication plays a fundamental role in the behavioural ecology of killer whales (Orcinus orca), influencing social cohesion, coordination, and environmental interactions.Understanding vocal activity as an indicator of welfare is critical for assessing the well-being of individuals both under human care and in the wild. This study presents a detailed analysis of a large dataset of killer whale vocalizations under managed care, encompassing nearly 1.5 million vocalisations recorded over a five-year period. Using passive acoustic monitoring, we quantified vocal production and examined its association with welfare-relevant conditions. The call rates observed in this study fall within the range described for wild populations, suggesting that vocal production might be preserved under controlled conditions. Our findings indicate that fluctuations in call rates and acoustic activity indices show modest associations with social and cognitive indicators, suggesting that certain aspects of vocal activity may serve as a reliable, non-invasive welfare indicator. Further research incorporating behavioural observations and qualitative vocal analyses is recommended to refine the predictive capacity of vocal parameters across diverse contexts. This study contributes to the growing body of research supporting bioacoustic approaches for animal welfare assessment and highlights the potential benefit of integrating vocal monitoring into comprehensive welfare management plans for both managed and free-ranging cetacean populations.