Bali is working hard on a better animal welfare image for aimals in the tourist industry: animal rescue organisations are achieving hope abused animals

Umah Lumba is worlds first dolphin rehabilitation center and sanctuary. It was constructed in West Bali, Indonesia by the conservation authorities BKSDA Bali, Dolphin Project and JAAN.( Jakarta Animal Aid Network )

https://www.jaanindonesia.org/about-us  Jakarta Animal Aid Network

This facility created new hope for rescued dolphins who previously had to entertain visitors inside a hotel swimming pool. Seized by the authorities in August 2019, the dolphins were entrusted in our care. In the specially built sea enclosures, rescued dolphins can adapt to live independently in the sea again.‍

The dolphins seem to be having so much fun. In fact they are deprived of fish to eat untill they do what they are taught. It is unethical

Swimming with dolphins

‍In Indonesia and Bali there are a number of places where tourists can swim with dolphins. For many people that sounds like a dream come true. They are beautiful, graceful and always have a smile on their face (a purely anatomical feature that tells nothing about their emotions). People think that the animals are having a good time, which is anything but true.

‍

Dolphins should not live in captivity. After being snatched away from their families, they live with strange peers in pools that are way too small and in which they cannot hunt, play or communicate with other dolphin groups via sonar. In captivity, the animals turn off their sonar because the walls of the cage bounce off the sound: for dolphins, this is maddening. Without sonar it is not possible to catch fish themselves, so the animals perform every trick just to be rewarded with food.

‍

Sea turtle rehabilitation  

This new part of the program started in 2022 when we received sea turtles from the authorities, all confiscated from the illegal trade. Within one year, we received 109 rescued green sea turtles, all confiscated from illegal traders. Besides illegal wildlife trade, the main threat to turtles in need of our care is plastic pollution and ghost fishing net entanglements.

Removing a fish hook from a turtle