Play in Wild and Captive Cetaceans

Although play behavior is difficult to define, it has been abundantly documented in the cetacean literature. Play behavior is prevalent among the various taxa and is exhibited by individuals of all age classes. However, it is often difficult to follow individuals, observe underwater behavior, and obtain multiple sightings of individuals when investigating free-ranging populations. Captive studies allow for the systematic manipulation of variables and the collection of detailed data with regard to individuals, age, and gender by being able to observe behavior both at the surface and underwater. Pooling information from both wild and captive studies of play allows for more robust theories, conclusions and understanding. In this paper, we provide a review of play behavior in both wild and captive cetacean populations as a first step toward a more complete understanding of the significance of cetacean play. The ability to study a particular phenomenon in both wild and captive populations of animals provides a greater depth of knowledge than would be possible with data gleaned from only one population type. The study of wild animals is typically based on naturalistic observation and although these types of studies provide a magnificent window into the lives of free-ranging animals and are a crucial component in the study of behavior, they often do not allow for true experimental design with the ability to manipulate variables. The study of captive animals provides this valuable scientific component. Therefore, combining studies of wild animals with those of captive individuals results in a more comprehensive understanding of the behaviors in question. Indeed, studies from wild and captive populations have provided insight into the lives of numerous species of animals (e.g., Brown & Norris, 1956; Saayman, Tayler, & Bower, 1973; Veasey, Waran, & Young, 1996). To illustrate the value of this approach for the study of cetacean behavior, we explore the contributions of studies of play in both wild and captive