Wild whales and dolphins have a similar maximum life expentacy to humans, as they can live up to 60-70 years or more. (It depends on the species, the most common ones held in captivity are orcas and bottlenose dolphins while there are others likes harbour porpioses, belugas, finless porpoises, common dolphins, commerson's dolphins, rough-toothed dolphins, spotted dolphins, false killer whales, pilot whales, Amazon river dolphins, risso's dolphins and spinner dolphins.)

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However, boredom, extreme stress, lack of stimulation, common fights and the unnatural confinement in captivity, has caused the premature death of the majority of cetaceans. The median life span of orcas in captivity, for example, is only 9 years. Only one orca, Bingo, managed to reach the average age of his wild counterparts.