We recently worked on a project with The Dolphin Project in North Bali. This was a cause that was very dear to our hearts and the heart of anyone who cares for animals. Three former show dolphins named Rocky, Rambo, and Johnny were finally released back to the sea following a few years of rehabilitation in a sea pen.

Rescued dolphin Johnny with Argos satellite tracking device moments before release from Umah Lumba Rehabilitation, Release and Retirement Center in Banyuwedang Bay, West Bali, Indonesia. Credit: DolphinProject.com

In conjunction with the Ministry of Forestry and other local and national government organizations, The Dolphin Project has been working on behalf of dolphins in Indonesia for many years. The story of Rocky, Rambo, and Johnny is a long one as they spent many years confined in small pools in north Bali as circus attractions. They were rescued in late 2019 and moved to a seapen only a few months before the lockdown hit in 2020.

For two years the Dolphin Project team looked after the dolphins and helped train them to eventually live on their own. As they had been in captivity for so long, each dolphin had to learn to hunt on their own. Through a long process and much love from their trainers and the whole Dolphin Project crew, the dolphins were considered independent enough to release into the wild.

The team celebrates a job well done! Credit: DolphinProject.com

Dolphin Project 2022 Bali Dolphin Release

In September of 2022, with all of the proper permits and releases from the necessary authorities the dolphins were set free. Our team was on hand to record the process on land and underwater. The process was an interesting one as any project with animals can be. No one knew what the dolphins would do once the nets were opened. The dolphins inspected the opening for around 45 minutes before they decided they would inspect the outside world. Once Johnny decide to leave, the other two joined him and they swam toward the open water of NW Bali. This is one of the most emotional projects we have been involved in as most conservation projects are.

To read more about this project and the release date please visit the Dolphin Project web page. If you are interested in supporting their cause you can find more information there.