Umah Lumba Rehabilitation, Release and Retirement Center | Dolphin Project

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

The Umah Lumba Center is a purpose-built facility for recently confiscated dolphins from captive facilities, and for stranded or injured dolphins. The facility is designed to stabilize the mammals, return them back to health and to assess whether they are candidates for readaptation and release.

For dolphins deemed releasable, they will be taken to Camp Lumba Lumba Readaptation and Release Center in Karimun Jawa, the world’s first permanent facility dedicated to the rehabilitation and release of dolphins. The mammals will then be prepared for return into their home range. The location was specifically chosen because the majority of dolphins were captured from the Karimunjawa National Park, and releasing them here would offer a good chance for the mammals to reunite with their family pods.

For dolphins deemed unreleasable, they can retire at the Umah Lumba Center in a safe and healing seapen, and live out the rest of their lives in peace and dignity.

Presently we have three dolphins in our care: Rocky, Rambo and Johnny. Captured in the Java Sea, the dolphins, for several years, were incarcerated in a shallow, heavily chlorinated swimming pool in North Bali. Since their relocation to the Umah Lumba Center, they have begun their rehabilitation and evaluation towards possible release.

The dolphins receive 24/7 round-the-clock care. We have a full-time staff veterinarian, security guards and caregivers. The center is a true rehabilitation, release and retirement facility, where our team is committed to making the dolphins’ lives as natural and independent as possible. In March 2020, Dolphin Project, in anticipation of the arrival of additional confiscated dolphins (due to the COVID-19 pandemic) tripled the size of our facility.

As the world’s first permanent dolphin rehabilitation, release and retirement facility in the world, the Umah Lumba Center must be a model of success. Ideally, it will act as a prototype for others to be built globally, as demand for captive dolphins wane.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Rocky, Rambo and Johnny swim in the waters of the Umah Lumba Center, Bali, Indonesia. Credit: Pepe Arcos

Rambo

Rambo at the Umah Lumba Center, Bali, Indonesia

Rambo was torn from his family and pod members in the Java Sea during a violent capture several years ago. He was confined to a shallow chlorinated swimming pool at the Melka Excelsior Hotel in North Bali. His job was to entertain crowds of tourists who think it is fun to watch dolphins jump through hoops during loud theatrical performances. Rambo shared a tank with a dolphin named Gombloh, and the two dolphins formed a close friendship. Rambo and Gombloh, it seemed, became each other’s comfort in the bleak, dungeon-like surroundings. Sadly, Gombloh took his last breath on August 3, 2019, just two days before we were able to rescue and relocate Rambo. Hotel staff found Gombloh’s lifeless body in the morning, and we wonder what it felt like for Rambo to be confined in the same tank as his dead friend, possibly for several hours.

We rescued Rambo on August 5, 2019 and transported him to a temporary floating sea enclosure in Sanur. In the following weeks, Rambo gained weight and strength, and he bonded with Rocky, who was relocated to Sanur at the same time. The two of them are spending much time playing, socializing, and swimming together. In December 2019 Rambo and Rocky were transported to our facility. There will be no more languishing in a small, barren concrete world, and no more theatrical dolphin shows to perform. All of that is behind him. Rambo is a younger dolphin who appears to be in good health, highly energetic and full of life. As such, he is a candidate to be sent to Camp Lumba Lumba for release into his home range. Whether Rambo can be released back into the wild, however, remains to be seen. For now, he is enjoying the healing benefits of natural sea water and the ability to dive and swim.

Johnny

Johnny at the Umah Lumba Center, Bali Indonesia

Captured in the Java Sea, Indonesia, Johnny is an older dolphin who lived several years in isolation inside a shallow swimming pool at the Melka Excelsior Hotel in North Bali. Crowds of people bought tickets to swim with him, and those were the only times he had any company. To make the water appear clean to paying customers, hotel staff added chlorine and other harmful chemicals. This hurt Johnny’s eyes so badly, he went blind. To make matters worse, Johnny has no teeth left. He also was critically underweight when we first found him. Furthermore, his right pectoral fin has been permanently damaged. At some point during his confinement, his pectoral fin got injured and infected. A piece of it was cut off to prevent the infection from spreading. Johnny was destined to spend the rest of his life trapped in the tank and dealing with tourists who want to kiss, hug, and ride him.

We rescued Johnny from the hotel and transported him to our facility on October 8, 2019. Those years of exploitation in appalling living conditions caused too much damage for Johnny to be successfully released back into the wild. He now enjoys a well-deserved retirement in a large sea pen, where he can once again experience the natural rhythms and sounds of the sea. We are feeding Johnny a diet of high-quality fresh fish, and he is gaining weight and strength. The healing properties of real ocean water are having an effect: Johnny often expresses his joy with energetic jumps, and he spends much time swimming, diving, and playing. We will do everything in our power to ensure the rest of his life is filled with peace and dignity.

Rocky

Rocky at the Umah Lumba Center, Bali, Indonesia

When Rocky was violently captured in the Java Sea several years ago, he lost everything that makes life worth living for a dolphin: his family, his world of sound, and the ability to swim freely in a vast ocean world. Rocky spent several years incarcerated in a shallow, heavily chlorinated swimming pool at the Melka Excelsior Hotel in North Bali. He was trained to obey commands and perform in theatrical shows that attract crowds of fun-seeking holiday makers. In between repetitive, rowdy shows, Rocky spent much time logging on the surface since there was nothing else for him to do. There is nothing to explore in a concrete tank, and Rocky could swim only a few feet before a wall stopped him. Confinement in such barren, unnatural surroundings took a heavy toll on Rocky’s well-being, and his future looked bleak and hopeless.

Thankfully, we were able to rescue Rocky on August 5, 2019, on the same day we rescued Rambo, and transported him to a temporary floating sea enclosure in Sanur. In December 2019 Rocky was transported from Sanur to our facility. Here, in the crystal-clear water of a spacious sea pen, he can once again enjoy the natural rhythms and sounds of the sea. Rocky is benefitting from the healing properties of natural sea water and is gaining weight and strength. As such, he is a candidate to be sent to Camp Lumba Lumba for release into his home range. Rocky loves to participate in boisterous, energetic play, and he especially loves to swim fast. He will never again have to perform tricks for food or experience confinement in a minuscule concrete tank. Whether Rocky can be released back into the wild, however, remains to be seen.SUPPORT OUR BALI DOLPHIN SANCTUARY NOW

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.

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.

Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and all donations are tax-deductible as authorized by law.

© 2021 Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project. All Rights Reserved.

171 Pier Ave. #234
Santa Monica, CA 90405

https://www.dolphinproject.com/campaigns/indonesia-campaign/bali-sanctuary/

‘Can’t un-see it’: Dolphin activist reveals scene that still haunts him

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An 81-year-old dolphin activist has opened up about the toll years of campaigning has taken on his mental health.

Describing the last 50 years as like “one big bad movie”, Dolphin Project founder Ric O’Barry said he would prefer to be retired and sailing.

It’s hard to walk away from a lifetime of activism, while the “abuse” of dolphins continues around the world.

“Wherever I am you try and escape it,” Mr O’Barry told Yahoo News Australia.

“Those images don’t go away. Once you see it you can’t un-see it.”

Dolphin campaigner Ric O’Barry is haunted by scenes of dolphin slaughter in Taiji, Japan. Source: Dolphin Project

He’s particularly haunted by the deaths of whales and dolphins in Taiji, Japan.

Vision captured by Dolphin Project gives insight into his experience: the ocean turning red with blood after dolphins and small whales are driven towards the rocky shore, then butchered.

“When you put your head on the pillow at night it doesn’t go away,” Mr O’Barry said of his time campaigning against the slaughter in Taiji.

“It’s like one long, bad dream, these last 15 years.”

‘It affects your family,’ O’Barry says of dolphin activist work

In his pursuit to free dolphins from captivity, Mr O’Barry has had his life threatened on many occasions, and lost count of how often he’s been imprisoned around the world.

Describing Japanese prison as torturous, he has avoided confrontation there, even when a hunter in the town of Taiji decapitated a dead baby dolphin in front of him.

“I think he wanted to shock me with a knife, that kind of stuff right in my face,” Mr O’Barry said.

“Blood splattered all over me”.

Mr O’Barry spoke to Yahoo News Australia from his home in Copenhagen. Source: Michael Dahlstrom

The work has taken a toll on him, but he believes it’s the people he loves have suffered most.

“It affects your family, it affects everybody around you,” he said.

“You miss your son’s graduation, I’m not sure I would recommend this to anybody.”

‘I wish I hadn’t taken that phone call’

Every time he leaves his home he’s walking into conflict, and that’s hard to leave at the door when he comes home.

Mr O’Barry’s work shot to prominence 10 years ago after his campaign to end dolphin slaughter in Japan was documented in the Oscar winning film The Cove.

Sometimes you have a split second to make a choice and it’ll literally change your life.Ric O’Barry

His work there began after receiving a call from another activist asking for assistance.

Mr O’Barry recalls he was told it was “dangerous” but they needed help.

Mr O’Barry (left), a skilled diver, said it is thrilling to set dolphins free. Source: Dolphin Project

“So, I bought an aeroplane ticket and I was there the next day,” he said.

“That was 20 years ago and I’ve been stuck (campaigning) there ever since.

“In some ways I wish I hadn’t taken that phone call.”

Dolphin Project’s work in the town of Taiji, has focused on not just the killing of dolphins for their meat, but also the hunters’ ties to the marine park industry.

Favoured species such as bottle-nose dolphins are captured and sold into captivity, particularly to Japanese and Chinese dolphinariums.

Dolphin parks linked to slaughter

With dolphin consumption not particularly popular in Japan, and known to be high in mercury, Mr O’Barry believes it is the lucrative sums earned from selling live dolphins which makes the slaughter financially viable.

While debate rages over whether dolphin killing is a tradition in Japan, the large scale culls and capture of these animals is a relatively new phenomenon.

Dead dolphins sell for as little as US $480, while a live animal can sell for 100 times that amount, according to Vice News.

Dolphin Project urges tourists to avoid dolphinariums. Source: Getty

The majority of those sold into entertainment are sent to China where there is an expanding middle class, with money to spend on dolphin shows, the Washington Post reported.

• Exclusive: Sea Shepherd founder warns destruction of planet ‘out of control’
• Whale’s devastating death caught in ‘shocking’ footage sparking calls for action
• Heartbreaking reason ‘panicked’ dolphin won’t escape from hunters

A growing number of Japanese nationals are protesting the hunt each year, and Mr O’Barry believes that ongoing education will see the practice phased out.

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‘It’s all about showing up’: Key to dolphin activism

Despite describing himself as “always tired”, Mr O’Barry isn’t retiring any time soon, but he doesn’t know where his stamina comes from.

“I just keep doing it. It’s like breathing,” Mr O’Barry said.

“It’s kind of like asking me how do you keep breathing, I don’t think about that any more, I just breathe.”

In the world of computer activism, he believes change occurs by physically protesting, and resisting.

“I’m computer illiterate, I don’t even own a computer,” he said.

“It’s all about showing up. Real activists show up.

Progress being made as laws ban dolphin capture

Despite the depressing side of his work, Mr O’Barry said he can see progress being made.

He was particularly elated by news that the state of NSW would be banning the breeding and capture of dolphins, following similar legislation passed in France and Canada.

Mr O’Barry, pictured as a young man, transitioned from capturing dolphins to setting them free. Source: Dolphin Project

Paying penance for his time as a young man capturing dolphins for marine parks, and working on the 60’s television show Flipper, nothing now gives him greater joy than releasing dolphins back into the ocean.

His activism was directly sparked by the loss of Flipper who died in his arms. The very next day he flew to the Bahamas and was arrested after setting a dolphin free.

He’s particularly proud of the work they have done rehoming three dolphins in Bali, which had been kept inside a hotel swimming pool to entertain tourists.

“There are some days where we actually rehabilitate and release dolphins back into the wild,” he said.

“Words fail when I try to explain how I feel about that — you’re literally giving them their lives back.

“Most dolphins that are captured lose their lives, they don’t get their lives back.”

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They don’t deserve this prison

Even though the drive hunt season has ended, this is just the beginning for the dolphins that were captured for the captive trade. Let's continue to take action all year long: https://t.co/BkupXmhEip#DolphinProject #SayNoToTheDolphinShow pic.twitter.com/Dx9JG0FKJM

— Dolphin Project (@Dolphin_Project) March 4, 2021

Help set them free!

A concrete tank simply cannot provide the physical, social and mental needs of complex marine mammals. Stay informed about captivity issues and help spread the word: https://t.co/q2BtTcsUzD #ThanksButNoTanks #DolphinProject
Video: yokomizosayaka pic.twitter.com/POdQpHF9uU

— Dolphin Project (@Dolphin_Project) February 28, 2021

The Dolphin Project

A new feature from VICE spotlighting Taiji’s global dolphin trade has just been released. The film includes exclusive drone footage, interviews with local citizens and with Japanese activists including Ren Yabuki, the director of Life Investigation Agency: https://t.co/fZh0rO3Nfl pic.twitter.com/OJ4RjplRPG

— Dolphin Project (@Dolphin_Project) February 28, 2021

The Cultures of Dolphins and Whales | Dolphin Project

04Feb Blog, Campaigns, Japan | Posts by : Tracie Sugo

We have a lot in common with dolphins. We live in tightly-knit social groups, have complex relationships, utilize forms of communication, and have culture. Culture, as in behavior that is shared within a community through social learning, has been recognized in a number of whale and dolphin species. 

One of the most well-known of these may be the complex and charismatic singing of male humpback whales. In certain populations, virtually all male humpback whales sing the same song. Every few years, males change up their songs with new patterns of squeaks and groans and then the new pattern gradually spreads as more males in the area learn it.

Wild dolphins swim by | Credit: Taryn Elliott/Pexels

In terms of dolphins, observations on how different dolphins behave in different parts of the world suggest a wide range of cultural behaviors. Bottlenose dolphins for example, are one species with a huge range; localized populations of bottlenose dolphins live in distinct parts of the world. Dolphins in a population in Florida utilize a complex cooperative hunting strategy known as mud-ring feeding, where muddy water is kicked up in a circle to trap a school of fish. 

In Laguna, Brazil, human fishermen and local bottlenose dolphins work together to catch fish. Both parties seem to have recognized that they target a specific type of fish and rather than compete they have learned to work together; when these local dolphins slap their heads or tails against the water, it acts as a cue for the Laguna fishermen standing on the nearby shore to cast their nets, which then breaks up the school of fish and makes it easier for dolphins to catch and feed on individual fish. 

And in Shark Bay, Australia a number of unique hunting behaviors have been observed in the local population of bottlenose dolphins, including the use of sea sponges as a foraging tool.

Among orcas, the concept of culture is even more compound. There are at least 10 different known orca eco-types, each with their own range, diet, dialect and cultures. Within each of these ecotypes are localized populations. 

CA163 “Liner” and pod mates from the population of transient (mammal-eating) ecotype off the coast of California | Photo by Tracie Sugo

Within the resident ecotype, there are southern resident orca and northern resident orca. Northern residents have a unique “massage” culture, in which they frequent specific beaches to rub their bodies along smooth pebbles in the shallows. Southern residents appear to have culture of being incredibly active and friendly; they have been observed having “greeting ceremonies” in which two groups of whales line up across from each other and then come together to engage in playful, physical contact (sadly such sightings have been sparse recently, as the Southern Residents face major threats to their primary food source, Chinook salmon). 

Wild and free Risso’s dolphins off the coast of California | Credit: Tracie Sugo

In 2009, Risso’s dolphins were among a handful of studied cetacean species that were found to have spindle neurons, which are linked to processing emotions and social interactions (these specialized brain cells were previously though to be unique to humans, but have now been found in certain species of great apes, elephants and cetaceans). What types of culture might Risso’s dolphins have? And how many other cetacean populations have culture? There is much that is yet to be studied in other cetacean species. In addition to aspects of cetaceans like intelligence, self-awareness and roles in marine eco-systems, culture is another important consideration for advocating for their protection. 

In areas like Taiji, Japan, where localized dolphin populations face tremendous pressure from human activity (direct hunts and captures, commercial fishing and prey competition, and noise pollution and other interference from nearby shipping lanes), there is serious concern for their well-being, their survival, and the risk of extinguishing their culture. 

Striped dolphin entangled in the hunters’ net | Credit: DolphinProject.com

Cover image by Kira Louw/Pexels

Sources:

• Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals (Third Edition)
• National Geographic: These Fishermen-Helping Dolphins Have Their Own Culture
• Smithsonian: Understanding Orca Culture
• Total number and volume of Von Economo neurons in the cerebral cortex of cetaceans

/ Tags: dolphin and whale language, dolphin socialization

Post By:
Tracie Sugo

Artist, illustrator and certified marine mammal naturalist.

• The Cultures of Dolphins and Whales February 4, 2021
• No Protections for Juvenile Dolphins in Taiji’s Hunts February 1, 2021
• No, Dolphins Don’t Belong in Captivity January 28, 2021

Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and all donations are tax-deductible as authorized by law.

© 2021 Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project. All Rights Reserved.

171 Pier Ave. #234
Santa Monica, CA 90405

https://www.dolphinproject.com/blog/the-cultures-of-dolphins-and-whales/

Ariel and Turbo Release Case Dolphin Project

In May of 2001, two bottlenose dolphins were languishing in a crude holding pit in the mountains of Santa Lucia Milpas Atlas, Guatemala. Both dolphins – a male named Turbo and a female named Ariel, had been captured from the wild and brought to the mountains by truck fourteen months earlier. Their captors were in the process of training them to perform in shows in the infamous traveling dolphin circus known as Water Land/Mundo Marino, when the Guatemalan environmental organization, MadreSelva, discovered the primitive operation. MadreSelva immediately alerted the authorities and asked them to look into the legality of Water Land´s captive dolphin training camp.

Water Land operates out of Margarita Island in Venezuela. Ruben Roca, the owner of the same traveling dolphin show that had illegally held Cheryl the Russian navy dolphin until her death, abandoned Ariel and Turbo when Guatemalan authorities instigated proceedings against him for their illegal capture.

Roca had left the dolphins in a shallow, stagnant pit, which had been dug with a backhoe. The hole was inserted with a white plastic liner, and a three foot high cement wall topped it off. The dolphin trainers had taken the fish freezer and parts of the filtration system with them when they fled the country in the middle of the night. As a result, the filtration system was not working, and the dolphins were literally living in a cesspool. According to eye witnesses, the pit had originally contained four dolphins. It is presumed that the two missing dolphins, named Sammy and Pinky, were transported to Water Land´s base in Margarita Island.

Ric O’Barry checking on the condition of Ariel and Turbo.

Dolphin Project, which at the time was working with the World Society of the Protection of Animals (WSPA) was initially contacted by Ms. Magali Rey Rosa of MadreSelva. When Ric and Helene O’Barry showed up in the remote mountain location to inspect Water Land´s dolphin training camp on June 1st, they found Ariel and Turbo floating listlessly on the surface of the foul-smelling water.

The dolphins were malnourished and dehydrated, and their skin was discolored from the contaminated water. Rocca’s rented house and the pit he had dug for the dolphins was located at an elevation of more than 6,000 feet. The altitude had played havoc with the dolphins’ health, and they had not eaten in several days.

Ric and Helene set up camp next to the pit and implemented first-aid. The filthy water was pumped out, and the bacteria-ridden liner was scrubbed clean. The pit was refilled with 25 tanker-trucks of fresh city water as well as 2400 pounds of salt. A new heavy duty swimming pool filtration system was installed. They fed the dolphins freshly-caught fish injected with water and electrolytes in order to re-hydrate them.

While Helene and Dr. Juan Carlos Murillo, a WSPA veterinarian, nursed the two dolphins back to health with fresh fish, vitamins and antibiotics, Ric flew to the edge of the Guatemalan jungle by helicopter provided by the Guatemalan Army to search for a site to build a sea pen. An ideal site was chosen when pods of resident bottlenose dolphins were spotted from the air. With the help of the Guatemalan army, a huge sea pen was erected in record time in Graciosa Bay, on the bayside of the Manabique Peninsula.

It took more than five weeks of negotiations between the Guatemalan government, MasdreSelva and WSPA to secure the dolphins´ release. While the negotiations went on, members of the dolphin captivity industry tried to roadblock our efforts. For the dolphins, this was a do-or-die situation: They could not survive in the holding pit much longer.

The authorities finally awarded custody to WSPA, and on July 12^th Ariel and Turbo were transported out of the mountains and back to the sea.

The Guatemalan navy provided a truck that would transport the dolphins from Santa Lucia Milpas Altas to the airport in Guatemala City. The dolphin rescue team had received death threats a few days earlier, and police and army personnel escorted the truck the entire way.

From Guatemala City, the dolphins were transported by plane to the naval base in Puerto Barrios. From there, it was just a 20-minute helicopter ride to the awaiting sea pen in Graciosa Bay where, for the first time in over a year, Ariel and Turbo once again experienced real sea water and a spacious environment. Never again would they have to perform tricks in order to be fed. The healing process could begin.

Airlifting Ariel and Turbo to their readaption and release facility ~ with Helene Hesselager O’Barry.

While the remote site at the edge of the Guatemalan jungle was ideal for rehabilitating dolphins, it posed many challenges for the dolphin rescue team. Ric and Helene were dropped off in the jungle with very few supplies, and as they saw the helicopter take off and disappear, they had no idea where they were going to spend the night. Just before dark, they found a small platform that could be used as a camp site. Here, they were safe from panthers, crocodiles, poisonous snakes and the large pack of wild dogs that lived in the area.

A freeze brand is used to create a logo on the dorsal fin for tracking after release.

Ariel and Turbo had only spent a short time in captivity and were perfect candidates for release. They had spent enough time in the wild prior to their capture to know how to survive, which fish to catch and how to avoid predators. Once introduced to the large sea pen, they showed no interest in humans whatsoever, and they had not forgotten how to hunt live prey. They spent most of their time leaping, diving and catching fish in the deep end of the sea pen. A pod of resident bottlenose dolphins entered Graciosa Bay twice a day to hunt for fish and each time visited the sea pen.

Dolphin Rehabilitation Sea Pen

Ariel and Turbo were rehabilitated using the Dolphin Project protocol. On the day of their release back into the wild, they were quickly adopted by the resident pod of bottlenose dolphins. Both Ariel and Turbo were seen together by local fishermen one year later. Turbo was spotted again on January 2003 in the Sarstoon River, which form a portion of the border between Belize and Guatemala. He was swimming with a group of wild dolphins.

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• Positive Momentum in 2021 January 18, 2021
• The Killing of Hope in Taiji January 17, 2021
• Humpback Whale Latest Victim of Taiji Fisheries January 13, 2021

Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and all donations are tax-deductible as authorized by law.

© 2021 Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project. All Rights Reserved.

171 Pier Ave. #234
Santa Monica, CA 90405

https://www.dolphinproject.com/campaigns/dolphin-sanctuary-project/readaption-vs-release/release-case-ariel-and-turbo/

Please sign the petition!

Footage from yesterday (Jan. 14, 2021) when a pod of striped dolphins was driven into the cove. In panic, several dolphins crashed into the rocks, turning water red as they were injured and bled. Take action: https://t.co/BkupXmhEip
Coverage in collab with Dolphin Project & LIA pic.twitter.com/WdVvUIJhCp

— Dolphin Project (@Dolphin_Project) January 14, 2021

Freedom

Help us #KeepThemWild! Become a #DolphinDefender. Head over to our Take Action page to get started: https://t.co/ft1bfJQiTZ#DolphinProject pic.twitter.com/gwMRk9I23V

— Dolphin Project (@Dolphin_Project) January 12, 2021

Sanctuaries for Dolphins

Establishing a sanctuary for formerly captive dolphins is no easy feat. The Umah Lumba Rehabilitation, Release and Retirement Center was established through partnership with the Indonesian government! Learn more at: https://t.co/s70leE3h8Y #DolphinProject #FreeBaliDolphins pic.twitter.com/cmZx7UcPWx

— Dolphin Project (@Dolphin_Project) January 10, 2021

The Cove

Taiji: Join Ren LIVE on LIA’s YouTube channel as dolphins are being driven towards the Cove. Join him at https://t.co/KlkJrYHRV2 December 9, 2020 10:20am Coverage in collaboration with #LifeInvestigationAgency and #DolphinProject pic.twitter.com/0TZOCHWKPY

— Dolphin Project (@Dolphin_Project) December 9, 2020

They belong with their family not entertaining us!

The captivity industry offers the primary economic motive for Taiji's dolphin hunts. This reinforces the idea that the hunts are tied to the captivity industry, and the desire for captive dolphins fuels the continuation of brutal captures: https://t.co/Yz9J9N7Xcr #DolphinProject pic.twitter.com/uEpvfO2xTe

— Dolphin Project (@Dolphin_Project) December 8, 2020

End The Senseless Slaughter In Taiji 🐬 Dolphin Project 🐬

TAKE ACTION

Learn more about our Taiji campaign

The dolphin drive hunts that take place each year in Taiji, Japan, have garnered international attention as the world has learned about the mass slaughter of dolphins and the ruthless captive selection process. These brutal hunts are documented by our team of Cove Monitors each season, and shared with the international public so that attention may be drawn to this outdated and unnecessarily cruel practice.

Please help today by taking the following action steps:

1. TAKE THE PLEDGE NOT TO BUY A TICKET TO A CAPTIVE DOLPHIN SHOW

Share your pledge on social media and encourage others to join you!

2. SIGN THE PETITION TO JAPAN’S GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO END THE HUNTS

3. URGE BROOME, AUSTRALIA TO SUSPEND “SISTER CITY” TIES WITH TAIJI, JAPAN

4. JOIN DOLPHIN PROJECT ON THE FRONT LINES IN TAIJI

Were you inspired by Ric O’Barry in “The Cove”? Learn more about becoming a volunteer Dolphin Project Cove Monitor.

Ric O’Barry The Cove Photo: DolphinProject.com

5.  MAKE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION TO SUPPORT OUR INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGNS

Your support is critical to our mission. If your employer has a matching gifts program, your donation could be doubled or even tripled!

6.  HAVE A COVE OR BLACKFISH PARTY AND HELP EDUCATE OTHERS

Host a movie night at your house and watch “The Cove” or “Blackfish”to educate others about dolphin captivity issues.

7. GET CREATIVE

Have a personal goal you’ve always wanted to accomplish? Want to help protect dolphins? Learn how by creating your very own fundraiser.

Think of unique ways to raise awareness in your community. Visit our VOLUNTEER PAGE for ideas.

8. SHARE

Let your voice be heard for dolphins! Education and spreading the word are key, so follow our social media accounts and share our posts with your friends. 

9. WEAR your support for dolphins! SHOP authentic Dolphin Project gear.

All proceeds support our international campaigns, and it’s a great way to start a conversation.

10. CONTACT THE AUTHORITIES

Help us get the word out! Please contact these authorities and let’s end this senseless slaughter once and for all.

WAZA: The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums
secretariat@waza.org

AZA: The American Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Media Contact: Rob Vernon (301)244-3352 | Email: rvernon@aza.org

IMATA: The International Marine Mammal Trainers’ Association
info@imata.org

PRIME MINISTER OF JAPAN
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga
Cabinet Public Relations Office, Cabinet Secretariat,
1-6-1 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100 – 8968, Japan

Website: http://japan.kantei.go.jp/index.html
Online comment form #1: https://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/forms/comment_ssl.html

Japanese Embassies Worldwide:
Websites of Japanese Embassies, Consulates and Permanent Missions

List of Embassies and Consulates-General in Japan:
List of Embassies and Consulates-General in Japan

US Embassy in Japan:
William Hagerty IV – Ambassador of the United States to Japan
Telephone: 011-81-3-3224-5000
Fax: 011-81-3-3505-1862
Send E-mail to the U.S. Embassy in Japan

Japan Cabinet Office
Comment/Question for Cabinet Office

Wakayama Prefecture Office, Fishery Division:
E0717001@pref.wakayama.lg.jp
Telephone: +81-73-441-3010
Fax: +81-73-432-4124

Dolphin Base:
Telephone: +81-0735-59-3514
Fax: +81-0735-59-2810

International Whaling Commission (IWC)
The Red House,
135 Station Road,
Impington,
Cambridge,
Cambridgeshire CB24 9NP, UK.
Tel: +44 (0) 1223 233 971
Fax: +44 (0) 1223 232 87
Email: secretariat@iwc.int

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) / Convention on Migratory Species (CMP)
UNEP/CMS Secretariat
Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1
53113 Bonn, Germany
Tel: (+49 228) 815 2401
Fax: (+49 228) 815 2449
Email: secretariat@cms.int

Japan Fisheries Public Content Form:
Contact the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries

US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations:
US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

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Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and all donations are tax-deductible as authorized by law.

© 2020 Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project. All Rights Reserved.

171 Pier Ave. #234
Santa Monica, CA 90405

https://www.dolphinproject.com/take-action/save-japan-dolphins/

Shopping Amazon this holiday… every purchase you make they will make a donation to the dolphin project

If you're shopping for holiday gifts on Amazon this year, make sure to add Ric O'Barry's Dolphin Project on #AmazonSmile! Amazon will donate a portion of eligible purchases toward our work at absolutely no cost to you!
More info at https://t.co/BoRJ8FMKR1!#DolphinProject pic.twitter.com/ZpHfxEG2PR

— Dolphin Project (@Dolphin_Project) December 5, 2020

Taiji: The Killing Cove

Taiji: A pod of approximately 15 Risso’s dolphins including a mother with a juvenile by her side were driven from their home in the open ocean into the Cove. The dolphins fought hard for over 3 hours but were eventually forced under tarps where all were slaughtered. pic.twitter.com/aM7kYRr5jl

— Dolphin Project (@Dolphin_Project) December 6, 2020

Superpod of an Estimated 1,000 Dolphins Filmed Swimming Along Whale-Watching Boat in California

By Rosie McCall On 5/19/20 at 6:40 AM EDT U.S.CaliforniaDolphinVideo

Whale watchers were in for a surprise when they encountered a “superpod” of more than 1,000 common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) during a trip off Laguna Beach, California, on Saturday.

https://videos.newsweek.com/share/515672?amp=1&autostart=1&publisher=amp_nw&items=1&nwcat=nwus-us&iabcat=IAB12&ivt_fq=0#amp=1

Newport Coastal Adventure, a whale-watching tour agency, shared a video of the event, showing hundreds of dolphins leaping through the waves as the boat sails past.

“We saw this Common Dolphin “superpod” chasing fish off Laguna Beach for our 5:30pm Private Charter Whale Watching trip today,” said Newport Coastal Adventure. “Some lucky families got to experience what it’s like to be amongst at least 1,000 dolphins.”https://tpc.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html?n=0 https://d-38292508244107259295.ampproject.net/2005151844001/frame.html

“The experience was incredible,” Ryan Lawler of Newport Coastal Adventure told Newsweek. “Thousands of dolphins tightly packed together, just about an hour from sunset.”

Lawler said the super pod was seen during a private charter trip with a single family, explaining the company is currently restricting trips to members of one household and maintaining distance between the captain and whale watchers amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Read more These Dolphins Beach Themselves As Part of a ‘Risky’ Feeding Behavior 13 Spectacular Photos of the Planet From the Lens of a Travel Photographer Gutted Carcass of Endangered River Dolphin Found in Bangladesh

Dolphins are highly social and gregarious creatures that live in groups. Recent research has highlighted the extent of their collaborative behavior, from the observation that male dolphins sing together (to coerce females into sex) to dolphins’ ability to make friends through shared interests, specifically their interest in “sponging,” which involves using sponges as foraging tools to find food. Other studies suggest dolphins use different vocalizations, or names, to identify friends and rivals, forge long-lasting alliances and lean on each other when raising their calves.

While common dolphins tend to travel in groups in the hundreds, they have been known to gather in large schools containing thousands of dolphins, dubbed megapods or superpods. Some of the largest contain more than 10,000 individuals. Within these congregations, there are a number of sub-groups, each consisting of 20 to 30 individuals who are connected through relation or factors such as age and sex.

“Super pods of common dolphins are spectacular but not rare. If the conditions are suitable, they can occur anywhere in the world,” Danny Groves, a spokesperson for marine charity Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC), told Newsweek, noting they have been spotted off the U.S., Scotland, South Africa and many other places.

Large pods like these often form for a short period of time during courtship or in response to prey. Take, for example, the gathering that aggregated near Monterey Bay, California, on Labor Day last year. According to Monterey Bay Aquarium, hundreds of common dolphins came together “hot on the tails of billions of baitfish.” Something similar appears to be occurring here—according to Newport Coastal Adventure, the dolphins were spotted chasing fish.

“I would say we see this phenomena a few dozen times a year. Sometimes we go months without seeing it. Other times we will see it a few times in one week,” said Lawler. “Common dolphins often travel and live in groups of 20-200 here, but if there is enough food around they will form a super pod such as this one for a small amount of time to take advantage of the strength in numbers in pursuing their prey, anchovies.”

“If prey are plentiful, then hunting in big pods can be beneficial. Likewise if there is a predator threat to the dolphins, then being in a large group provides security,” said Groves. “If they are just being sociable, then we might expect dolphins to get similar benefits that humans get from getting together in large groups—a sense of community and enjoyment, ironically something they are able to do right now whilst we are isolating.”

Groves added: “Whilst we humans are locked down, the seas are quieter and less polluted, and nature seems to be reclaiming its territory.” A pod of common dolphins surf the bow wake of a boat on July 16, 2008 near Long Beach, California. Footage taken last week shows a superpod of “at least” 1,000 common dolphins near Laguna Beach. David McNew/Getty

It is not clear from the video what type of common dolphin is being filmed. Though initially considered a single species, since 1994 it has been split into the long-beaked common dolphin and the short-beaked common dolphin.

According to WDC, advances in science suggest the initial classification was correct and the short-beaked and long-beaked dolphins are variations of the same species, which can be identified by their different sized beaks and their coloring.

https://www.newsweek.com/super-pod-1000-dolphins-whale-watching-boat-california-1505010?amp=1&__twitter_impression=true

These dolphins are stolen from the wild and sold to aquariums around the world! Please do not support this cruel to tradition!!

This is happening every day for the next 6 months pic.twitter.com/uxjo3GZXft

— The Dodo (@dodo) December 1, 2019

Stolen from the wild

This is the heartbreaking way some dolphins end up in tanks 💔 pic.twitter.com/6BQ6ByXE6H

— The Dodo (@dodo) November 29, 2019

Nearly Extinct Pink Dolphin Gives Birth To Pink Calf

 

lifeinsider.me

Uncommon pink dolphin mother gave birth to a charming infant dolphin. She was named Pinky, and the baby dolphin has been seen in the Calcasieu River in Louisiana. The pink calf was there, as well.

This warm-blooded animal became famous 12 years back. Chief Erik Rue was the first to recognize her. The video of Pinky and her child was posted on Pinky’s Facebook page. The dolphins were swimming before a huge boat in the Calcasieu Ship Channel.

As indicated by specialists, Pinky is a Rare River Dolphin who got the pink shading from an uncommon hereditary change. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recorded stream dolphins as jeopardized. Its populace is diminishing.

The birth of the calf gives us trust that calves have acquired their mom’s hereditary change which would help in the exertion of expanding the number of inhabitants in uncommon species.

Skipper Rue clarified that the dolphin is pink from its tail to the tip and has red eyes. Its skin is smooth and lustrous.

Pinky isn’t influenced by the earth or daylight however beyond any doubt likes to stay underneath the surface more than other animals.

She’s a fantastic mammal that conveys delight to local people, and visitors love seeing such a superb well-evolved creature.

Bridget Boudreaux spotted Pinky and her calf in the river some a time ago. She saw them swimming and bouncing around. Recognizing the mother and her child was a great encounter for her, and she even requested that the commander stop the vessel so she can see it better.

https://lifeinsider.me/nearly-extinct-pink-dolphin-gives-birth-to-pink-calf/

R.I.P Amity – A Sea World Icon

Black Cove

On Sunday February 10, the news was shared on a cetacean-interest Facebook page that Amity, Sea World Gold Coast’s oldest dolphin had died.  The comments that followed were mostly from people who had known and worked with Amity during their careers, and it was clear that there was a genuine fondness for this captive dolphin.

Amity received her name from the area where she was collected – Amity Banks in Moreton Bay, Queensland.  Estimated to be around 3 or 4 years of age, Amity was  captured sometime in the mid to late 60’s when wild dolphin capture was still legal in Australia.

It is likely that Amity belonged to the resident population in that area, and as a juvenile Australian Humpback dolphin (Sousa sahulensis), she would either have been taken from her mother or would have recently become independent, as calves of this species usually stay with Mums for around…

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Dolphin Project 🐬 Protest🐬

Come on out and create a noise like no other!

Event information location Scottsdale Arizona…

buff.ly/2WmXqXe#DolphinProject #ThanksButNoTanks

 

Warning Graphic Images: Police Searching For Person Who Carved Name Into Dolphin While At Sea In Spain – Sea Voice News

seavoicenews.com
by Alex Larson

Heartbreaking images show a female dolphins dead body with the name ‘JUAN’ carved into the side of the mammal.

The animal was found washed up on a beach and authorities are now hunting for the individual whom committed the atrocious act.

Credit: Central European News

The carvings as well as several other injuries appear to be have done at sea where the animal perished and later washed ashore in the south-eastern Spanish province of Almeria.

According to Equinac coordinator Eva Maria Moron, “The injuries and the cuts were not done at the beach, it must have happened at sea and the storm has pulled it out of the water.’

Spanish Civil Guard sources told reporters that the Department of Marine Service has been investigating the appearance of other dolphins found dead on the beach for months and that the latest case will be added to the investigation.

Credit: Central European News

Representatives of Equinac added that if anyone does find a dead dolphin on the coastline of Spain, they should immediately notify the authorities and that fishermen whom catch dolphins as a product should be notifying the authorities as well.

They added: “We want to make people aware of the importance of taking care of protected animals, such as marine turtles or dolphins, some people in the fishing industry are against these animals as for example they say that dolphins are eating their fish or breaking their nets and we should be aware of that.”

http://seavoicenews.com/2018/12/18/warning-graphic-images-police-searching-for-person-who-carved-name-into-dolphin-while-at-sea-in-spain/

WAN Exclusive With Marine Animal Rescue Regarding Case of Dolphin Shot In California; $10,000 Reward Offered To Find The Sick Subhuman Who Did It – World Animal News

WAN Exclusive With Marine Animal Rescue Regarding Case of Dolphin Shot In California; $10,000 Reward Offered To Find The Sick Subhuman Who Did It

By Lauren Lewis –
November 19, 2018

The heartbreaking discovery of a dead dolphin that washed up on shore off the coast of Manhattan Beach, California, earlier this month continues to raise questions and demand answers.
Most importantly, who is the pathetic individual responsible for killing the innocent dolphin, and what possesses someone to commit such a horrible act of violence.
WAN talked with Peter Wallerstein of Marine Animal Rescue about the “senseless brutality” of the killing, and a $10,000 reward fund that the nonprofit organization has established to help authorities identify and locate the perpetrator, as well as ensure that justice is served.
“There is no reason for anyone to kill a dolphin, especially this way,” Wallerstein, who discovered the bullet wound, told WAN, further noting that the dolphin otherwise appeared to be in good shape.
A 33-year veteran of rescuing marine animals in and around Los Angeles County, Wallerstein explained that his theory of how the dolphin died was confirmed when Dr. Palmer with the Marine Mammal Care Center in Los Angeles found the bullet inside of the deceased marine mammal.
Wallerstein told WAN that he reported the incident to the National Marine Fisheries law enforcement division, the unit that should be investigating the crime, as dolphins are among the ocean mammals protected under federal law.
Jim Milbury of the National Marine Fisheries West Coast office advised WAN this afternoon that the law enforcement division was aware of the situation, he stated that it is the organization’s policy to not comment on the status of investigations.
Don’t let the tragic death of this sentient being be in vein, other dolphins need our help to ensure that justice is served, and to send a strong message that this type of senseless animal cruelty will not be tolerated or treated lightly.
It is imperative that anyone with information about this case contact the National Marine Fisheries Law Enforcement’s Hotline at (800) 853-1964.
Anyone with a tip should also contact Peter Wallerstein of Marine Animal Rescue at (310) 455-2729.
Marine Animal Rescue, which is offering the reward, will forward relevant information received to the National Marine Fisheries Law Enforcement Division to ensure an investigation into this heinous crime.
Donations to help Marine Animal Rescue save the lives of sick, injured or orphaned marine animals including: whales, seals, sea lions and seabirds, can be made Here!

https://worldanimalnews.com/wan-exclusive-with-marine-animal-rescue-reguarding-case-of-dolphin-shot-in-california-10000-reward-offered/

 

Contact us: contact@worldanimalnews.com

© Copyright 2018 – WorldAnimalNews.com

Petition: Stop the dolphin slaughter in Norway before it starts! · Change.org

change.org
Stop the dolphin slaughter in Norway before it starts! · Change.org
Ørjan Jacobsen Fjeldstad started this petition to The Norwegian government and 4 others
2 minutes

The elected officials of the indigenous northern Sami people of Norway has voted unanimously yes to introduce dolphin slaughter to the northern beaches of Norway. Similar to The Cove in Taiji Japan, or the Grindadrap in the Faroe Islands. They start working on how to legalize and implement this practice. With the ultimate goal of getting the Norwegian government on board.

Dolphins live in groups, and the catch of some, leads to damage in the social structure. Inflicting trauma and suffering, and limiting the ability to reproduce. Not to mention the brutality and suffering inflicted over the period of time it takes to kill the dolphins with various tools. The Sami claim dolphin hunt is a tradition worthy of reinstating.

If this were to happen, it would be a tremendous setback to animal welfare and conservation in Norway. It would color the beaches red. The dolphin population would not be safe anymore. And Norway would have dealt another smack in the face to international solidarity. I’m referring to the whaling ban Norway refuses to uphold, despite being a member of the IWC, and losing a vote that ended the legitimacy of commercial whaling in 1982.

We call on the Norwegian government, and relevant ministers to ban delfinfangst aka dolphin slaughter, and make it illegal permanently. And to refuse any future requests of allowing such an unnecessary and barbarically outdated practice to resurface from the depths of the past. Where progress in animal welfare, and human ethics in treatment of animals has made its slow march.

https://www.change.org/p/the-norwegian-government-stop-the-dolphin-slaughter-in-norway-before-it-starts

Breaking! Myanmar Expands Protected Area For 76 Critically Endangered Irrawaddy Dolphins Living In The Ayeyawady River – World Animal News

By WAN –
October 16, 2018

Irrawaddy Dolphins in Myanmar. CREDIT: WCS
Working in collaboration with Myanmar’s Department of Fisheries (DoF), Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has announced the creation of a new protected area for a population of critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphins living in the Ayeyawady River of central Myanmar.
Sadly, earlier this year, conservationists counted a total of 76 Irrawaddy dolphins living in the Ayeyawady River between the river towns of Mandalay and Bhamo.
The new 100-kilometer (62 mile) zone will serve as an extension to an existing protected area established in 2005 between the towns of Mingun and Kyauk Myaung in collaboration between DoF and WCS.
“Establishment of the new Ayeyawady Dolphin Protected Area demonstrates the significant commitment of the Myanmar Government to conserve this charismatic species of the Ayeyawady River,” Saw Htun, Deputy Country Program Director, WCS Myanmar Program said in a statement. “WCS will collaborate with all stakeholders on coordinated efforts to save the threatened Irrawaddy dolphins in existing and new protected areas.”
To establish the new protected area, DoF and WCS consulted with over 50 villages along the river. Based on those meetings the protected area status was agreed for a 100 kilometer stretch of the river from Male to Shwegu, with a further 100 kilometers designated as a less restrictive buffer area.
Within the new protected area, use and size of gillnets are restricted to prevent dolphins from getting entangled, sometimes drowning. In addition, other methods like electric fishing and the use of dynamite and gold mining are strictly prohibited along with damage of habitat such as sandbars, grasslands, and vegetation.

https://worldanimalnews.com/breaking-myanmar-expands-protected-area-for-76-critically-endangered-irrawaddy-dolphins-living-in-the-ayeyawady-river/

Please Go Plant-Based!”One Person CAN Make A Difference”

Contact us: contact@worldanimalnews.com
© Copyright 2018 – WorldAnimalNews.com

Petition: Why Is Peru Illegally Slaughtering 15,000 Dolphins Each Year?

by: Kevin Mathews
recipient: Vice Minister Javier Fernando Miguel Atkins Lerggios

46,140 SUPPORTERS – 50,000 GOAL

A new report by the Animal Welfare Institute finds that over 100,000 cetaceans (dolphins, porpoises and small whales) are intentionally killed each year by fishers so they can be chopped up for bait. This inhumane practice is most common off the coast of Peru, where fishers catch up to an estimated 15,000 dolphins.

These dolphins aren’t just being killed, they’re being brutalized. Once they’re pulled on to the boat, they’re stabbed with harpoons and knives and left to slowly die in agony.

Hunting dolphins is already against the law in Peru, but the lack of enforcement isn’t preventing the fishing industry from carrying on with killing dolphins and the like anyway. Though there have been some initial efforts to fix this problem, it’s going to take a serious commitment from Peru to scare this thriving black market out of existence.

That’s why we’re calling on Vice Minister Javier Fernando Miguel Atkins Lerggios, the man in charge of fisheries and aquaculture in Peru, to commit himself to aggressively

If undercover investigations by conservation groups can discover how prevelant this practice is, surely some government stings can catch the fishing industry in the act, too.

Protect the dolphins, Peru!

https://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/103/306/410/

 

“Dolphins Come Together to Greet Newborn | BBC Earth”

Petition: Someone Shot and Killed a Dolphin and Her Unborn Calf

by: Care2 Team
recipient: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

109,846 SUPPORTERS – 110,000 GOAL
When most people see a dolphin their hearts fill with joy. But not some thug in Mississippi. Instead, according to officials, he pulled out a gun and shot it.

If that wasn’t bad enough, when authorities performed a necropsy on the dead cetaecian, they found that it was pregnant. Neither the mother or unborn calf had a chance of surviving. Now animal welfare organizations are offering a combined reward of up to $11,000 for information that leads to the killer’s arrest.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) — one of the organizations charged with implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) — if caught, the culprit could face up to one year in prison and $100,000 in fines.

Since 2002 — in the Northern Gulf region which includes Mississippi — 24 dolphins have been found dead from human-inflicted injuries including guns, arrows or being impaled.

For some reason, more and more people are finding it “fun” to abuse our protected marine life.

This killer must be caught and brought to justice so our government can make an example out of them. We must make sure animal abusers are held responsible for their crimes.

Sign the petition and tell NOAA support them in their search for the killer of the Mississippi dolphin.
https://www.thepetitionsite.com/481/471/271/someone-shot-and-killed-a-dolphin-and-her-unborn-calf/

 

Petition: Protect Dolphins from Oil Spills

act.oceana.org

Opening the floodgates to dirty and dangerous offshore drilling is a catastrophe waiting to happen, made all the worse by President Trump’s proposal to gut a key safety rule.

The BP oil spill was the most devastating oil spill in our nation’s history and the Well Control Rule was one of the only safety regulations implemented in the aftermath.

We cannot allow the Trump Administration to eliminate this key safety rule right when they are pushing to radically expand offshore drilling in nearly all federal waters. We need more safety, not less.

Tell the Trump Administration and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement: Do not dismantle the Well Control Rule and risk another oil spilling catastrophe.

We need 30,000 people to speak up before the Aug. 6 deadline to stop offshore drilling – make yourself heard.

https://act.oceana.org/page/27224/action/1?locale=en-US

In male dolphin alliances, ‘everybody knows your name’ — ScienceDaily

sciencedaily.com
In male dolphin alliances, ‘everybody knows your name’ — ScienceDaily
Jonathon Goodman,
3-4 minutes

It’s not uncommon in dolphin society for males to form long-lasting alliances with other males, sometimes for decades. Now, after studying bottlenose dolphins in Shark Bay, Australia, for more than 30 years, researchers reporting in Current Biology on June 7 find that these males retain individual vocal labels rather than sharing a common call with their cooperative partners.

“We found that male bottlenose dolphins that form long-term cooperative partnerships or alliances with one another retain individual vocal labels, or ‘names,’ which allows them to recognize many different friends and rivals in their social network,” says Stephanie King (@_StephanieLKing) from the University of Western Australia. “Our work shows that these ‘names’ help males keep track of their many different relationships: who are their friends, who are their friend’s friends, and who are their competitors.”

In the new study, King and colleagues set out to better understand what role vocal communication plays in coordinating complex social behaviors, including cooperation, in bottlenose dolphins. The researchers knew from years of study that male bottlenose dolphins form long-term cooperative alliances with one another. However, they did not know how these males used vocal signals to form and maintain these relationships.

To explore the role of vocal signals, they recorded the dolphins’ vocalizations using underwater microphones and determined the individual vocal label used by each of the males. They then measured the similarity of those identity signals within and between alliances to find out whether males with stronger social relationships used vocal labels that were more similar.

“We wanted to understand if allied male dolphins converged onto similar calls as a way of advertising their alliance membership, or whether they retained individual vocal labels,” King explains.

The analysis showed that males in an alliance retain vocal labels that are quite distinct from one another, suggesting that those calls serve a purpose similar to an individual name. That’s in contrast to findings in many other species where individuals with close relationships converge on shared vocalizations as a way of advertising their membership to that partnership or group.

“With male bottlenose dolphins, it’s the opposite — each male retains a unique call, even though they develop incredibly strong bonds with one another,” King says. “Therefore, retaining individual ‘names’ is more important than sharing calls for male dolphins, allowing them to keep track of or maintain a fascinating social network of cooperative relationships.”

King says they will now study the males’ relationships with one another more closely. They’ll play the “names” of individual males back to each other and explore how males respond to members of their alliances in different contexts.

“It will be interesting to reveal whether all cooperative relationships within alliances are equal or not,” she says.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/06/180607112756.htm

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