Although this theory looks promising, not all captive dolphins, and not even dolphins kept under similar conditions, have the same physiologies and fat percentages. These differences have made observation of any indicators for this correlation difficult. The research cited above creates a body of information to support an area of study into fertility problems with captive dolphins. The close relationship of fat percentages to lean body mass seen in the fertility research listed above is manifested through hormone levels. Since a female dolphin may go in and out of fertility due to her fat percentages, she may conceive while fertile and then loose or damage the fetus because of a loss of body fat and the resulting hormonal changes.
Dolphins have their physical conditioning grossly changed once they are captured.
In the wild, this condition would not exist except in a compromised individual. These compromised dolphins would be in such poor health that they would be poor candidates for reproduction under feral circumstances. This unique body chemistry may cause hormonal fluctuations that influence repreduction. Any animal, male or female, that has its fat reserves challenged by changes in the environment is benefited by not having to expend resources trying to raise offspring under austere conditions. With tens of millions of years of evolutionary advantage over humans it is possible that the described conditions could create hormonally based infertility.