Adopt a Cetacean
Adopt an Animal. Follow Its Story.
Discover the Wildlife of Algoa Bay, One Animal at a Time
Every fin tells a story. Every sighting advances science. Every adoption helps protect marine life in Algoa Bay.
Cetacean Adoption Programme
Algoa Bay is home to an extraordinary diversity of marine life, from dolphins to whales, seals and other species that use its rich coastal waters.
Through our Cetacean Adoption Programme, you can choose an animal to support and become part of its ongoing story.
Every time our researchers encounter and photograph an adopted animal, you can follow along and discover where it has been seen, who it has been travelling with, and what we are learning about its life.
Your monthly support helps make this research possible — contributing to the long-term monitoring, identification and conservation of the animals that call Algoa Bay home.
Your adoption helps us keep watching.
And every photograph can become another chapter in an animal’s story.
Our researchers use photo-identification to recognise individual dolphins and whales from natural markings on their dorsal fins, tails and bodies.
This allows us to build a picture of individual animals over time — where they are seen, how often they return to the bay, who they associate with and how their lives change.
When you adopt, you can choose to follow an individual animal or support a species you are especially interested in.
Want to keep up with Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins? You can.
Fascinated by humpback whales? Follow them.
Want to discover the wider diversity of cetaceans and marine wildlife in Algoa Bay? You can support them too.
And when one of the animals you follow is photographed during our research, you can be part of that moment.
Adoption Option
Whether you simply want to support the wildlife of Algoa Bay, follow a particular dolphin, or become a dedicated supporter of one of our most recognisable animals, you can choose the adoption that means the most to you.
Basic Adoption
A simple way to show your support for the wildlife of Algoa Bay.
Choose from the animals and species featured in our adoption programme and receive a personalised digital adoption certificate recognising your support.
This is a one-time adoption — no monthly commitment.
Standard Adoption
Adopt a Named Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin
follow the story of a real, individually identified dolphin from our catalogue.
Our researchers use photo-identification to recognise individual Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins by the unique markings on their dorsal fins.
Whenever our researchers identify your adopted dolphin during fieldwork, we’ll let you know where and when it was seen.
You can follow its journey as we continue to learn about its movements and life in Algoa Bay.
Premium Adoption
Adopt an Algoa Bay Star. Some animals become part of the story of Algoa Bay.
Our Star Animals are individuals that have become especially recognisable to our researchers and supporters — animals such as Popcorn and Nougat, whose stories have made them local icons.
With a Star Premium Adoption, you don’t just support the research. You follow one of Algoa Bay’s stars.
Whenever our researchers identify your adopted animal, we’ll notify you and share a photograph from the sighting, whenever available.
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Choose a cetacean of our named catalgoue
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Adoption certification
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No monthly commitment
A simple way to show your support for the wildlife of Algoa Bay.
This is a one-time adoption.
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Choose a named Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin
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Adoption certification
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Updates about your dolphin whenever it will be seen
Adopt a Named Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin, we’ll let you know where and when it was seen.
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Dedicated adoption of one Star Animal
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Adoption certification
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Updates about your dolphin whenever it will be seen
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A photograph from the sighting
Stay with your Star for six consecutive months and receive a special Star Adoption poster as a thank-you for your continued support.
Note: You will receive an email confirming receipt of your adoption request. To finalise the adoption, you can then donate the total amount indicated.