One Year Ago Today, History Was Made

What a difference a year makes. Exactly one year ago today on August 5, 2019, Dolphin Project, along with our local partners, successfully confiscated two bottlenose dolphins, Rocky and Rambo, along with many other animals suffering in deplorable conditions at the Melka Excelsior Hotel in Bali, Indonesia. The two remaining dolphins, Johnny and Dewa, were confiscated a short time later, and the hotel was closed down.

Today, thanks to your support, instead of swimming in filthy pools, destined to live out the rest of their lives as entertainment for tourists, Rocky, Rambo and Johnny can now live out the rest of their lives as nature intended: swimming in natural seawater, chasing live fish, and exploring an environment filled with sealife and other natural stimulation.

FROM THIS…

Dolphins are forced to interact with paying tourists in swim-with-dolphins program, Melka Excelsior Hotel, Bali, Indonesia

TO THIS…

Rocky, Rambo and Johnny swim in the healing waters of the Umah Lumba Rehabilitation, Release and Retirement Center, Bali, Indonesia

At present, the three dolphins are rehabilitating at the Umah Lumba Rehabilitation, Release and Retirement Center – the first of its kind in the world to care for formerly captive dolphins. While COVID-19 continues to cause untold suffering across the planet, our team has stayed together, caring for our three rescued dolphins while expanding our facilities in preparation for additional previously-captive or stranded dolphins in need.

It’s amazing to see the boys thrive, busy the whole day with each other, playing and chasing fish. The hunting skills of Rocky and Rambo have improved so much. It’s very promising to watch the difference from them eating just pieces of dead fish only a year ago while at the Melka Hotel, to now accepting and chasing live fish.”~ Femke den Haas, Dolphin Project’s Indonesian Campaign Manager

In addition to providing 24/7 care to Rocky, Rambo and Johnny, we are continuing our efforts to help educate about the importance of marine conservation. The villagers have graciously allowed us to use a piece of land where we have constructed an educational center, created from bamboo. Here, the center will be able to provide a safe and fun space for people of all ages to learn about animal welfare, and the value of keeping marine life safe and free in the ocean.

Umah Lumba Rehabilitation, Release and Retirement Center

Our team helps to distribute masks and food to local villagers in need, Bali, Indonesia.

The newly-constructed Education Center will serve as a fun place to learn about marine life and the importance of marine conservation!

The newly-constructed Education Center will serve as a fun place to learn about marine life and the importance of marine conservation!

Please consider making a gift of regular support to ensure we can provide the quality care needed for the health and welfare of the rescued dolphins in our stewardship. It’s fast, simple and offers immediate benefits for the dolphins.

The Umah Lumba Rehabilitation, Release and Retirement Center and Camp Lumba Lumba Readaptation and Release Center form an incredible partnership with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia, BKSDA Bali, Dolphin Project, Jakarta Animal Aid Network, Karimunjawa National Park and the West Bali National Park. Together, we built Umah Lumba, the world’s only permanent dolphin rehabilitation, release and retirement facility for previously captive dolphins and Camp Lumba Lumba, the world’s first permanent facility dedicated to the readaptation and release of dolphins in Kemujan, Karimun Jawa. Ric O’Barry, Founder/Director of Dolphin Project has pioneered readaptation for captive dolphins and has released a number of dolphins into the wild.