MARINE WILDLIFE CAMPAIGNS

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Westerlaken foundation actively finances campaigns against captivity of sea animals, like dolphins and turtles. We have an ongoing an anti captivity campaign, which can be dowloaded below. Feel free to use and spread the message!

REPORT HARMFUL SITUATIONS OR STRANDINGS

Report any harmful situation (if needed anonymous) regarding marine wildlife by using the field on the right. 

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RED FLAGS

Signs that the facility may not be a legitimate sanctuary or rehab facility

Hereby some tips to identify wether a facility is a legitimate sanctuary or rehab facility for dolphins or not:

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If a facility:

- offers photo ops

- offers paid interactions and scheduled activities

- allows dolphins to be touched, kissed and lets dolphins do tricks such as splashing or 'playing with a ball'

- has a strong focus on education and conservation in marketing, while also offering photo ops, paid interactions and scheduled activities, touching, kissing and tricks

- has a scientific program or rescue program, while offering photo ops, paid interactions and scheduled activities, touching, kissing and tricks

- 'rescues' stranded whales and dolphins but doesn't focus on immediate release as best solution but takes the animal to the captive center instead

- claims that the dolphins are rescued but can not offer any documentation or proof for this rescue (most heard story" 'saved by fisherman') and keeps these rescued animals in a pool to entertain tourists instead of focusing on rehabilitation and release
- has a breeding program

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than the facility is not a sanctuary or rehab center, but a facility that keeps dolphins for financial gain. 

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Sanctuaries do not require participation of rescued dolphins in shows or force human interactions, which can cause stress for the animals such as described above. 

CAMPAIGNS WORK

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Spreading the message helps! In 2019 Westerlaken assisted Ric O'Barry Dolphin Project, Jakarta Animal Aid Network and BKSDA in the saving of Johni, Dewa, Rocky and Rambo out of the chlorine pool of Melka Resort in Lovina. Hopefully we can undertake more of those rescue missions in 2020!

Please see 2 movies below to see how campaigning helps! Movie 1 shows a clip made by us 3 years ago. Movie 2 shows the result of campaigning, the saving of Johni, Dewa, Rocky and Rambo in which we assisted.