A population of Pacific white-sided dolphins—a species traditionally found miles offshore—makes its home in the quiet, remote inlets of coastal British Columbia, Canada. The Oceans Initiative team travels to this special area, known as the Great Bear Sea, to study these beautiful tri-colored dolphins. By monitoring these dolphins, we are able to detect changes that may occur in the population’s health and in their environment. Oceans Initiative’s scientists can identify individual dolphins by photographing unique markings on their dorsal fins and tracking the dolphins over time.
Adopt a Pacific White-sided Dolphin
You can support Oceans Initiative’s conservation efforts with a symbolic adoption of a Pacific white–sided dolphin. Your tax-deductible donation provides needed funding to continue our non-invasive, long-term research and to further protect this beautiful population of marine mammals. By symbolically adopting a dolphin, you will make a meaningful contribution to this important research.
What’s Included with your Symbolic Adoption
With your tax-deductible donation, you will receive:
- Personalized adoption certificate
- Pacific white-sided dolphin fact sheet
- 8×10 photograph of your dolphin
- Oceans Initiative dolphin sticker (mailed kits only)
You may choose to receive the Dolphin Adoption Kit by email or mail. The Kit is sent via first-class mail and should arrive approximately two weeks following receipt of your donation.
How the Symbolic Adoption Works
You may adopt a dolphin for yourself, as a gift, or in memory of someone special. Choose your dolphin and make a tax-deductible donation to Oceans Initiative:
- One year with a gift of $40
- Two years with a gift of $75
- Lifetime with a gift of $250
Opportunities to Name a Dolphin
You’ll see that some of the dolphins available for adoption have real names. Others have not yet been named. These have an ID number that identifies for our team the location where we saw the dolphin, whether we see the left or right side of the dorsal fin, and the sequence in which we photographed the dolphin. Naming a dolphin is a unique and special opportunity, giving you permanent naming rights to your dolphin for a suggested minimum donation of $750 USD. Other donors may still continue to adopt your dolphin, which now bears the name you selected. If you are interested in naming a dolphin, please contact our team at dolphinadoption@oceansinitiative.org
Choose Your Dolphin
Evren
Evren was first discovered on September 14, 2016. He was photographed swimming beside his family at Naka Creek, off the northeastern end of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada.
Delphina
Delphina was sighted on September 4, 2016 near Naka Creek, off the northeastern end of Vancouver Island. Eight days later, she had moved to Cormorant Channel, British Columbia, Canada.
Annie
Annie was first seen on September 4, 2016 near Naka Creek, off the northeastern end of Vancouver Island. Ten days later, she had moved 30 miles north to remote Drury Inlet.
Kelly
Kelly (named after Kelly Clarkson, who profiled our work on her show) was first seen swimming with her family on September 14, 2016 in Drury Inlet and on September 15, 2016 in Kingcome, British Columbia.
Ceilidh Belle
Ceilidh Belle, previously known as dolphin KR0016, was first seen in 2016. On September 12, 2016, Ceilidh Belle was photographed swimming with her family in Blackfish Sound, British Columbia, Canada.
Ondia
Ondia was first seen in 2016 in our west coast study area. She was seen September 21, 2016 swimming beside her family in Tribune Channel, north of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.
Snowball
Snowball, previously known as Dolphin IL0002, was first seen in 2016. On September 10, 2016, Snowball was photographed swimming beside its family in Cormorant Channel, in British Columbia, Canada.
Squeaky
Squeaky, previously known as Dolphin LR0276, was first photographed on August 26, 2016, swimming beside its family in Sointula, on September 14, 2016 in Drury Inlet, and September 15, 2016 in Kingcome.
Mikey
Mikey, previously known as Dolphin GL0199, was first seen in 2016. On September 4, 2016, GL0199 was photographed swimming with its family in Naka Creek, in British Columbia, Canada.
Wishart
Wishart, previously known as dolphin CR0178 was seen in 2007, 2009 and 2016. He was photographed swimming beside its family on August 26, 2016 in Sointula and on September 15, 2016 in Kingcome.
Echo
Dolphin FR0005 was first photographed in August 2010 in Canada’s Broughton Archipelago.
WR0005
Dolphin WR0005 was first photographed in April 2010 in Canada’s Broughton Archipelago.