CetaNauts.org · The Census

Hundreds of institutions hold cetaceans. Only part of the record has been independently checked.

Every dot below is a named institution in the working census. The colors describe the current evidence record, including classifications that remain provisional.

A public research record Last revised 3 September 2026 404 institutions named and classified
Institutions associated with identified interface work — 2 Communication or cognition research — 30 Claims research, output unconfirmed — 59 Provisionally classified as display or unclassified — 246
404
institutions named and classified
1
current two-way programme identified
379
classifications not independently confirmed

Roster from Ceta-Base Phin’ventory (377 facilities), corroborated against Whale & Dolphin Conservation (345 facilities, 56 countries) and World Animal Protection 2018 (355 facilities). Three published inventories with different methods, all within 9% of one another; agreement does not independently verify any one inventory. Population figure of ~3,029 dolphins remains advocacy-sourced.Pending

01 — The working censusWhat the classifications can support

The current data identifies institutions that may connect cetacean care, communication research, and interface engineering. It does not yet measure the global rate of that overlap.

The census currently names 404 institutions. The population estimate remains advocacy-sourced, and most institution-level negative classifications have not been independently verified. This page therefore reports what has been found without treating an unsuccessful search as proof of absence.

Access alone has not produced a sustained interface research network.

One programme, not three

An earlier version of this page said three institutions were doing two-way interface work. Independent verification corrected it. The Wild Dolphin Project, Georgia Tech, Google and their university partners are one collaboration — CHAT — not one programme each. Counting institutions had inflated the number.

13 institutions appear across the whole history of this work. They resolve into 6 historical branches — the 1967 Navy acoustic communicator, the EPCOT keyboard, the Reiss–McCowan keyboard, Kewalo’s symbolic comprehension work, Kolmården’s sonar touchscreen, and a beluga vocal-labelling study in Japan — and 1 that is still running.

Our bounded search identified one current collaboration. It did not establish a complete global count, so this page does not claim that no other current programme exists.

The institution roster establishes possible access points. It does not establish how many animals are available for research, why interface work has developed slowly, or whether a particular institution could support a voluntary study.

This is not an argument against these facilities

An aquarium is not obliged to run a cognition laboratory, and nothing on this page suggests the people working in them are doing anything wrong. Most were built to show animals to the public, and they do that.

The narrower observation is that institutions with animals, communication researchers, engineers, longitudinal access, and a shared protocol are uncommon. The next phase of this census is to measure that overlap rather than infer its cause.

02 — The fewEveryone we can find doing real work

Grouped by what each institution says its own mission is. Where an institution’s stated mission and its published output disagree, that is flagged.

InstitutionLocationCognitionStatus
Research — primary30
Aarhus UniversityAarhus DK—Active
Baiji Dolphinarium (Institute of Hydrobiology, CAS)China—Active
Brookfield Zoo ChicagoBrookfield IL—Active
CIRCESpain—Active
Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Deep-sea Science and EngineeringSanya, China—Active
Dolphin Communication ProjectPort St Lucie FL / RoatanYesActive
Dolphin Research CenterGrassy Key FLYesActive
Fjord & Bælt CenterDenmark—Active
Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlanta GA—Active
Ghent UniversityOPEN QUESTIONGhent, Belgium—Active
Google DeepMindMountain View CA—Active
Hunter College CUNYNew York NYYesActive
Institute for Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS) / Ocean AdventuresUnited States—Active
Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal LaboratoryHonolulu HIYesClosed
Long Marine LabUnited StatesPartialActive
Mote Marine LaboratorySarasota FL—Active
Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience (NeuroPSI)Saclay, France—Active
Sarasota Dolphin Research ProgramSarasota FL—Active
Sea Mammal Research Company (SEAMARCO)Netherlands—Active
South African Association for Marine Biological ResearchDurban, South Africa—Active
St Mary's UniversitySan Antonio TXYesActive
University College CorkCork, Ireland—Active
University of La LagunaTenerife, Spain—Active
University of Rennes / ETHOSRennes, France—Active
University of Southern DenmarkOdense, Denmark—Active
University of St AndrewsSt Andrews UKYesActive
University of UtrechtUtrecht, Netherlands—Active
University of ZurichZurich, Switzerland—Active
Wild Dolphin ProjectJupiter FL / Bahamas (field)YesActive
Woods Hole Oceanographic InstitutionWoods Hole MA—Active
Research — claimed59
Acquario di GenovaItaly—Active
Acuario RodaderoColombia—Active
Aqualand Costa AdejeOPEN QUESTIONSpain—Active
Atlantis Paradise IslandBahamas—Active
Batumi DolphinariumGeorgia (country)—Active
Boudewijn SeaparkBelgium—Active
Coffs Coast Wildlife SanctuaryAustralia—Active
Delfinariu ConstantaRomania—Active
Delfiniti IxtapaMexico—Active
Dolfinarium HarderwijkNetherlands—Active
Dolphin Academy CuraçaoCuraçao—Active
Dolphin Adventures VallartaMexico—Active
Dolphin ExperienceBahamas—Active
Dolphin Island ParkDominican Republic—Active
Dolphin Island SentosaSingapore—Active
Dolphin QuestHawaii / Bermuda—Active
Dolphin Quest BermudaBermuda—Active
Dolphin Reef EilatIsrael—Active
Dolphins Plus BaysideUnited States—Active
Enoshima AquariumJapan—Active
Georgia AquariumAtlanta GA—Active
GulfariumUnited States—Active
Hanwha Aqua Planet JejuSouth Korea—Active
Island Dolphin CareUnited States—Active
John G. Shedd AquariumUnited States—Active
Kagoshima City AquariumJapan—Active
Kinosaki Marine WorldJapan—Active
Kujukushima AquariumJapan—Active
Kyoto AquariumJapan—Active
Loro ParqueOPEN QUESTIONSpain—Active
Loro Parque FundaciónTenerife, Spain—Active
Marine World UminonakamichiJapan—Active
Marineland AntibesFranceYesActive
Marineland CanadaCanada—Active
Marineland Dolphin AdventureUnited States—Active
Marineland MallorcaSpain—Active
Minamichita Beach LandJapan—Active
Mississippi AquariumOPEN QUESTIONUnited States—Active
MoskvariumRussia—Active
Motobu Genki MuraJapan—Active
Mundo MarinoArgentina—Active
Niigata City Aquarium Marinepia NihonkaiJapan—Active
Noah Dolphin DomeJapan—Active
Noboribetsu Marine Park NixeOPEN QUESTIONJapan—Active
Ocean Park Hong KongHong Kong—Active
Oceanario Islas del RosarioColombia—Active
OceanogràficSpain—Active
Okinawa Churaumi AquariumJapan—Active
Okinawa Marine Research CenterJapan—Active
Otaru AquariumJapan—Active
Planète SauvageFrance—Active
Port of Nagoya AquariumJapan—Active
Primorsky OceanariumRussia—Active
Roatán Institute for Marine SciencesHondurasYesActive
SeaWorld Abu DhabiUnited Arab Emirates—Active
Taiji Whale MuseumJapan—Active
Tiergarten der Stadt NürnbergGermany—Active
Toba AquariumJapan—Active
Waterland Mundo MarinoVenezuela—Active
Government / military1
U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program (NIWC Pacific)United States—Active
Education / conservation68
Acuario VeracruzMexico—Active
Asamushi AquariumJapan—Active
Atlantis Dolphin BayUnited Arab Emirates—Active
Attica Zoological ParkGreece—Active
Beijing AquariumChina—Active
Cabo Dolphins Cabo San JoseMexico—Active
Cabo Dolphins Cabo San LucasMexico—Active
Changsha Underwater WorldChina—Active
Chimelong Ocean KingdomChina—Active
Clearwater Marine AquariumUnited States—Active
Coral WorldU.S. Virgin Islands—Active
Dalian Sun Asia Ocean WorldChina—Active
Delfinario SonoraMexico—Active
Delphinus Interactive Aquarium CancúnMexico—Active
Delphinus Playa MujeresMexico—Active
Delphinus Puerto MorelosMexico—Active
Delphinus Punta CancunMexico—Active
Delphinus Riviera MayaMexico—Active
Delphinus XcaretMexico—Active
Delphinus Xel-HáMexico—Active
Dolphin ExplorerDominican Republic—Active
Dolphin Quest HawaiiUnited States—Active
Dolphin Quest OahuUnited States—Active
Dolphins Plus MMRUnited States—Active
Haichang Polar Ocean World ChengduChinaPartialActive
Haichang Polar Ocean World TianjinChinaPartialActive
ISE Sea ParadiseJapan—Active
Indianapolis ZooUnited States—Active
Jangsaengpo Whale MuseumOPEN QUESTIONSouth Korea—Active
Jardim ZoológicoPortugal—Active
Joetsu Municipal AquariumJapan—Active
Kobe Suma Sea WorldJapan—Active
Kolmården ZooSweden—Active
Linyi Ocean World Theme ParkChina—Active
Lithuania Sea MuseumLithuania—Active
Marineland CatalunyaSpain—Active
Miyajima Public AquariumJapan—Active
Moorea Dolphin CenterFrench Polynesia—Active
NEMO OdessaUkraine—Active
National AquariumUnited StatesYesActive
New Yashima AquariumJapan—Active
Ocean AdventurePhilippines—Active
Ocean Aquarium of PenglaiChina—Active
Oita Marine Palace UmitamagoJapan—Active
Palmitos ParkSpain—Active
Qinhuangdao Xin’ao Underwater WorldChina—Active
Quanzhou Baxianguohai Ocean WorldChina—Active
Sea Life ParkUnited States—Active
Sea World Gold CoastAustralia—Active
Selwo MarinaSpain—Active
Sendai Umino-Mori AquariumJapan—Active
Shanghai Changfeng Ocean WorldChina—Active
Shenzhen Safari ParkChina—Active
Shikoku AquariumJapan—Active
Shimonoseki Municipal AquariumJapan—Active
Shinagawa AquariumJapan—Active
Taizhou Ocean WorldChina—Active
Taman Safari BaliIndonesia—Active
Taman Safari PrigenIndonesia—Active
Texas State AquariumUnited States—Active
WSI – Pantai CahayaIndonesia—Active
Wersut Seguni IndonesiaIndonesia—Active
Xiamen Underwater WorldChina—Active
Yehliu Ocean WorldTaiwan—Active
Yongtai Oulebao Ocean WorldChinaPartialActive
Zoo DuisburgGermany—Active
Zoomarine PortugalPortugal—Active
uShaka Marine WorldSouth Africa—Active
Entertainment246
Acuario BaconaoCuba—Active
Acuario Cayo NaranjoCuba—Active
Acuario NacionalCuba—Active
Adaland Dolphin ParkTurkey—Active
Adler DolphinariumRussia—Active
Adventure World ShirahamaJapan—Active
Agadir Dolphin WorldMorocco—Active
Aksu DolphinariumTurkey—Active
Alushta Dolphinarium WatercolorCrimea—Active
Amakusa Pearl Center Sea DonutJapan—Active
Anapa Dolphinarium (Nemo)Russia—Active
Anapa Dolphinarium on Bolshoy UtrishRussia—Active
Aqua Park ShinagawaJapan—Active
Aqua World OaraiJapan—Active
Aquatica OrlandoOPEN QUESTIONUnited States—Active
Arkhipo-Osipovka DolphinariumRussia—Active
Atlantis SanyaChina—Active
Awashima Marine ParkJapan—Active
Bahrain Dolphin ResortBahrain—Active
Bali Exotic Marine ParkIndonesia—Active
Baotou Ocean WorldInner Mongolia—Active
Batang Dolphin CenterIndonesia—Active
Blvd DolphinariumSaudi Arabia—Active
Bodrum Dolphin ParkTurkey—Active
Boundary Island Dolphin BayChina—Active
Chenzhou Huatai City AquariumChina—Active
Chimelong SpaceshipChina—Active
Chongqing Hanhai Polar Ocean WorldChina—Active
CiCi AcapulcoMexico—Active
Colorful Guizhou City Polar Ocean WorldChina—Active
Curaçao Therapy & Research CenterCuraçao—Active
Dafeng Port Ocean WorldChina—Active
Dali Ocean WorldChina—Active
Dalian Laohutan Ocean ParkChina—Active
Dalian Whale MallChina—Active
Delfinario Cayo CocoCuba—Active
Delfinario Cayo GuillermoCuba—Active
Delfinario Cayo Santa MariaCuba—Active
Delfinario CienfuegosCuba—Active
Delfinario VaraderoCuba—Active
Dinglongwan Ocean KingdomChina—Active
Discovery CoveUnited States—Active
Dolphin BaseJapan—Active
Dolphin Cove Montego BayJamaica—Active
Dolphin Cove Moon PalaceJamaica—Active
Dolphin Cove Ocho RiosJamaica—Active
Dolphin Discovery Cancun Hotel ZoneMexico—Active
Dolphin Discovery Cancun-Isla MujeresMexico—Active
Dolphin Discovery Costa MayaMexico—Active
Dolphin Discovery CozumelMexico—Active
Dolphin Discovery Grand CaymanGrand Cayman—Active
Dolphin Discovery Playa Del CarmenMexico—Active
Dolphin Discovery Puerto VallartaMexico—Active
Dolphin Discovery Punta CanaDominican Republic—Active
Dolphin Discovery Riviera MayaMexico—Active
Dolphin Discovery Saint KittsSt. Kitts—Active
Dolphin Discovery Tulum-AkumalMexico—Active
Dolphin EncountersBahamasYesActive
Dolphin Fantasy IshigakiJapan—Active
Dolphin Fantasy ItoJapan—Active
Dolphin Farm Awaji JanohireJapan—Active
Dolphin Farm ShimanamiJapan—Active
Dolphin Park KemerTurkey—Active
Dolphin VillageSaudi Arabia—Active
Dolphin WorldEgypt—Active
Dolphina CairoEgypt—Active
Dolphina HurghadaEgypt—Active
Dolphina Sharm el SheikhEgypt—Active
Dolphinaris BarceloMexico—Active
Dolphinaris CozumelMexico—Active
Dolphinaris Riviera Maya ParkMexico—Active
Dolphinaris TulumMexico—Active
Dolphinarium AtleshaCrimea—Active
Dolphinarium ColisseumRussia—Active
Dolphinarium GolubitskayaRussia—Active
Dolphinarium Neptune (Yevpatoria)Crimea—Active
Dolphinarium Oscar KirillovkaUkraine—Active
Dolphinarium Oscar TruskavetsUkraine—Active
Dolphinarium Oscar-HenicheskUkraine—Active
Dolphinarium PartenitCrimea—Active
Dolphinarium Sea StarRussia—Active
Dolphinland AntalyaTurkey—Active
Dolphins PacificPalau—Active
Dubai DolphinariumUnited Arab Emirates—Active
Dzhubga DolphinariumRussia—Active
EPCOT The Living Seas Read the 1967 record →CONFLICTOrlando FLPartialClosed
Echizen Matsushima AquariumJapan—Active
Fakieh AquariumSaudi Arabia—Active
Festa Dolphinarium VarnaBulgaria—Active
Fushun Royal Ocean WorldChina—Active
Fuxian Lake Happy WorldChina—Active
Fuzhou Ocean WorldChina—Active
Gelendzhik DolphinariumRussia—Active
Geoje Sea WorldSouth Korea—Active
Great Sochi DolphinariumRussia—Active
Grozny DolphinariumRussia—Active
Guangzhou Ocean WorldChina—Active
Haichang Ocean Park ShanghaiChinaPartialActive
Haichang Ocean Park ZhengzhouChinaPartialActive
Haichang Polar Ocean World MaomingChinaPartialActive
Haichang Polar Ocean World QingdaoChinaPartialActive
Haichang Polar Ocean World WuhanChinaPartialActive
Haichang Polar Ocean World XiamenChinaPartialActive
Haihua Island Ocean ParadiseChina—Active
Hainan Ocean ParadiseChina—Active
Haiqu Huadu Ocean WorldChina—Active
Hakkeijima Sea ParadiseJapan—Active
Hangzhou Changqiao Polar Ocean ParkChina—Active
Harbin PolarlandChina—Active
Hefei Ocean WorldChina—Active
Hengdian Dream Dolphin BayChina—Active
Hotel Dolphin ResortJapan—Active
Huaian Dragon Palace Beluga WorldChinaPartialActive
Hualien Farglory Ocean ParkTaiwan—Active
Huaxia Cultural Tourism Ocean ParkChinaPartialActive
Ise-shima Marine LeisureJapan—Active
Istanbul DolphinariumTurkey—Active
Izu-Mito Sea ParadiseJapan—Active
Japan Dolphin CenterJapan—Active
Jingfeng Ocean WorldChinaPartialActive
Jingzhou Ocean WorldChinaPartialActive
Jinyi City AquariumChinaPartialActive
Kaifeng Dong Jing Polar AquariumChina—Active
Kamogawa Sea WorldJapan—Active
Karadag DolphinariumCrimea—Active
Kish Dolphin ParkIran—Active
Kislovodsk DolphinariumRussia—Active
Koktebel DolphinariumCrimea—Active
Kunming Beluga Fantasy WorldChina—Active
Kunming Sunac Ocean ParadiseChina—Active
Land of LegendsTurkey—Active
Lanzhou Polar Ocean WorldChina—Active
Lazarevsky DolphinariumRussia—Active
Lehe Ledu Theme ParkChina—Active
Linyi Polar Ocean WorldChina—Active
Longchuan Polar Ocean WorldChina—Active
Loo Dolphinarium No. 1Russia—Active
Mar del Plata AquariumArgentina—Active
Marine World Africa USAVallejo CA—Closed
Medical Center OceanRussia—Active
Mediterraneo Marine ParkMalta—Active
Minsk DolphinariumBelarus—Active
Mundomar BenidormSpain—Active
Muroto Dolphin CenterJapan—Active
NEMO AlushtaUkraine—Active
NEMO BerdyanskCrimea—Active
NEMO Dolphins Bay PhuketThailand—Active
NEMO FeodosiaCrimea—Active
NEMO KharkovUkraine—Active
NEMO KobleveUkraine—Active
Naberezhnye Chelny DolphinariumRussia—Active
Nanchang Sunac Ocean ParkChina—Active
Nancheng ZooChina—Active
Nanjing Underwater WorldChina—Active
Nanning Rongsheng Polar Ocean WorldChina—Active
Nanning ZooChina—Active
Nebug Dolphinarium Aqua-MirRussia—Active
Ningbo Ocean WorldChina—Active
Nizhny Novgorod DolphinariumRussia—Active
Notojima AquariumJapan—Active
Novosibirsk Dolphinarium DelphiniaRussia—Active
Oasis Sea WorldThailand—Active
Ocean Adventures Punta CanaDominican Republic—Active
Ocean Dream SamudraIndonesia—Active
Ocean World Puerto PlataDominican Republic—Active
OltremareItaly—Active
Osaka Kaiyukan AquariumJapan—Active
Parque Acuático Splash SilaoMexico—Active
Pattaya DolphinariumThailand—Active
Poseidon Ocean KingdomChina—Active
Pulau Bidadari / Bidadari IslandIndonesia—Active
Qingdao Ocean Dream FactoryChina—Active
Quancheng Ocean Polar WorldChina—Active
Rancho Texas ParkSpain—Active
Recinto Maya KayMexico—Active
Riyue Bay Sunac AquariumChina—Active
Rizhao Ocean ParkChina—Active
Rostov DolphinariumRussia—Active
Rungna DolphinariumNorth Korea—Active
Safari WorldThailand—Active
Saintland Sea World QinhuangdaoChina—Active
Sanniang Bay Dolphin ParadiseChina—Active
Sanya Discovery Ocean WorldChina—Active
Sanya Haichang Fantasy TownChinaPartialActive
SeaWorld OrlandoUnited States—Active
SeaWorld San AntonioUnited States—Active
SeaWorld San DiegoUnited States—Active
Sealanya Seapark & DolphinparkTurkey—Active
Shanhaiguan Lertao Ocean ParkChina—Active
Shenyang Ocean WorldChina—Active
Shibushiwan Daikoku Dolphin LandJapan—Active
Shijiazhuang Zoo AquariumChina—Active
Shilin Ice Ocean WorldChina—Active
Shimoda Floating AquariumJapan—Active
Shishi Ocean WorldChina—Active
Shouguang Polar Ocean WorldChina—Active
Six Flags Discovery KingdomUnited States—Active
Skadovsk Dolphinarium WatercolorUkraine—Active
Sochi Park DolphinariumRussia—Active
Splash Parque Acuático VallartaMexico—Active
Suzhou AquariumChina—Active
Taiji Harbor PensJapan—Active
Taizhou Qinhu Ocean WorldChina—Active
Taman Safari BogorIndonesia—Active
Theater of the SeaUnited States—Active
Tianzu Mountain Happy WorldChina—Active
Tsukumi Dolphin IslandJapan—Active
Tuần Châu Ecopark HanoiVietnam—Active
Tuần Châu Quảng Ninh Dolphin ClubVietnam—Active
Vinpearl Land Nha TrangVietnam—Active
Vinpearl Land Phú QuốcVietnam—Active
Weifang Binhai Ocean ParkChina—Active
Weigao Ocean ParkChina—Active
Weihai Shenyou Ocean WorldChina—Active
Weihai Xixiakou Wildlife ParkChina—Active
Wenzhou Polar Ocean WorldChina—Active
Wuhu Xinhualian Beluga Ocean ParkChina—Active
Wuxi Sunac Ocean ParkChina—Active
Wuyishan Tianhong Polar Ocean ParkChina—Active
Xiamen White Dolphin Breeding & RescueChina—Active
Xiaomeisha Sea WorldChina—Active
Xinhualian MINI AquariumChina—Active
Xining Ocean WorldChina—Active
Xi’an Qujiang Ocean WorldChina—Active
Xi’an Qujiang Polar Ocean ParkChina—Active
Xi’an Tai’ao Fantasy AquariumChina—Active
Xuzhou Oulebao Polar OWChina—Active
Xuzhou Underwater WorldChina—Active
Yangzhou Polar Ocean WorldChina—Active
Yaroslav DolphinariumRussia—Active
Yeisk DolphinariumRussia—Active
Yekaterinburg OceanariumRussia—Active
Yevpatoria DolphinariumCrimea—Active
Yingkou Bayuquan Great Beluga WorldChina—Active
Yunmenshan Ocean ParkChinaPartialActive
Zhangzhou Dongshan Polar OWChinaPartialActive
Zhengjia Polar Ocean WorldChina—Active
Zhengzhou AquariumChina—Active
Zhengzhou Changqiao Polar OWChina—Active
Zhonghe Dolphin Bay Ocean ParkChina—Active
Zhoukou AquariumChina—Active
Zhoushan Changqiao Ocean WorldChina—Active
Zoológico de QuistocochaPeru—Active
Zoomarine ItalyItaly—Active
Zunyi Ocean WorldChina—Active
Zuzhou Yunlong Ocean ParkChina—Active

How much of this has actually been checked

Of the 404 institutions above, 25 have been independently verified by a second party. 0 were checked once, by us, against the organisation’s own material. The remaining 379 carry a classification that has not been independently confirmed.

🔴 We know that matters, because the checking has already caught us out. An independent pass took the seven facilities we had most doubt about — all of them classified as display on the strength of a search that turned up nothing — and found real peer-reviewed research at five of them. Vocal imitation work with a killer whale at Marineland Antibes. Echolocation development in a dolphin calf born at Acquario di Genova. Signature-whistle analysis of ten bottlenose at uShaka Sea World.

Those five have been corrected above. But the same method produced most of the display classifications on this page, so a facility listed here as having no known research programme should be read as “not yet checked properly”, not as “checked and found empty”. Every negative made on that basis has been withdrawn in the underlying data rather than left standing.

What is named here, and what is still thin

All 404 institutions above are named from a facility census, not estimated. But naming an organisation is not the same as having audited it. Of the 404, only 140 currently carry a verified link to their own website, and only 161 carry a mission statement quoted in their own words.

Where a record rests on published work, that work is sometimes shared. 23 institutions here carry a confirmed communication or cognition result, but 3 of those records cite a study another institution on this page also cites — a researcher’s organisation and the facility that hosted the animals are both real, and both belong in a census, but they are not two experiments. Those 23 records rest on 20 distinct studies.

The rest are deliberately blank. An earlier pass filled every one of those cells, and the values turned out to include trade-association URLs standing in for facilities, one sentence reused across twenty-six different aquariums, and assertions that an institution had published nothing — sourced to that institution’s own marketing page. Those were removed rather than kept.

🔴 An empty cell here is a finding. It means nobody has checked yet, and says so. Everything on this page that is filled in can be followed to a source.

03 — Why it mattersThree legs, rarely in the same place

Interface work needs three things at once: an engineer who can build the system, a facility that can house the work, and animals who know the trainers. Each is common. All three together, in one postcode, is rare enough to count on your fingers.

Institutions often contribute only one or two of those elements. The useful question is which partnerships can combine them long enough to run a controlled, repeatable study. The present data identifies candidates; it does not yet establish why earlier branches stopped.

The practical opportunity is coordination: a facility, a research team, an interface engineer, and a protocol designed to produce interpretable results whichever way they fall.

04 — Where this goes nextThe programmes worth reading in full

Each entry below has its own record: what was achieved, what the next step was, and how it ended. They are worth reading in order, because the pattern only becomes obvious once you have seen it four or five times.

Seventy years, and how each effort ended — beginning with the 1967 U.S. Navy report in which two dolphins responded to thirty-five commands and one reproduced four trained whistle contours on a repeat cue. It closes by naming the next experiment. We have not located a public record showing that it was completed.