Umah Lumba Rehabilitation, Release and Retirement Center

The Umah Lumba Rehabilitation, Release and Retirement Center in Banyuwedang Bay, West Bali, Indonesia is the first and only permanent dolphin rehabilitation, release and retirement facility for formerly performing dolphins. In September 2019, BKSDA Bali Forestry Department and the Ministry of Forestry initiated the idea. Working with local partners Jakarta Animal Aid Network to supply the manpower and Dolphin Project to provide the financial support and supervision, the Umah Lumba Center was built. (“Umah Lumba” means “dolphin house” in Balinese.)

While our main focus at the Umah Lumba Center is on dolphin rehabilitation and re-release, Dolphin Project is pleased to be able to provide medical aid and rehabilitation for turtles, including endangered and critically endangered species. Our on-the-ground team in Indonesia is equipped to respond to calls of injured or distressed turtles. At the Umah Lumba Center, the turtles may receive assessment and treatment, and when deemed healthy enough, be released back into their native waters. We also have a handful of turtle patients that require long term care.

The Dolphin Project Team in Indonesia is engaged in community outreach not only to help dolphins, but also to help local people and animals. Our efforts range from:

• Operating a free school (the Umah Lumba Education Center)
• Assisting with local wildlife rescue
• Tree planting
• Operating a No-Cost Veterinary Clinic
• Marine mammal stranding response, and more!

Remembering Johnny

Captured in the Java Sea, Johnny was carted from town to town, and forced to perform in a plastic pool in Indonesia’s traveling circus. His next stop was a heavily chlorinated swimming pool in the Melka Excelsior Hotel in North Bali, where, for many years, this older dolphin was held in isolation. When Johnny was rescued, his condition was deplorable from years of abuse and neglect. At Umah Lumba, he regained his strength and weight. He played, dove and ate his fill under the sun and stars, slowly healing in the natural, saltwater currents of the bay. We are so grateful we had the opportunity to make the last few years of his life peaceful with round-the-clock care that prioritized his well-being, not that of the paying customers he had to cater to for most of his life. In November 2022, Johnny succumbed to a respiratory illness.

Remembering Dewa

Captured in the Java Sea, Dewa was an older dolphin who was severely affected by the trauma he suffered during his confinement at the Melka Excelsior Hotel in North Bali. There, he spent years confined in the hotel’s shallow, heavily chlorinated swimming pool, exploited in a commercial dolphin-assisted therapy program for people with paralysis and other disabilities. Our rescue team transferred Dewa from the swimming pool to our facility on October 8, 2019. Since we introduced Dewa to natural sea water, his condition improved but he was still plagued with several health problems including chronic pneumonia. Sadly, Dewa succumbed to his longstanding illness and took his last breath on March 11, 2020.

Remembering Gombloh

Gombloh was captured in the Java Sea and, sadly, did not survive his encounter with humans. Gombloh died at the Melka Excelsior Hotel in North Bali on August 3, 2019, just two days before our team was able to rescue Gombloh’s beloved companion Rambo. We are happy we arrived at the hotel in time to rescue Rambo, Rocky, Dewa, and Johnny from the shallow and heavily chlorinated swimming pools, but at the same time heartbroken that we got there too late to get Gombloh out of there. We will always remember Gombloh, who is one of countless dolphins to have fallen victim to consumers’ demand to watch dolphins perform and to swim with them.