July brought stories of return, discovery, and new beginnings. Across our partner organizations, months of patient work began to show tangible results: rehabilitated penguins returned to the wild, thousands of baby sea turtles made their first journey to the ocean, and coral restoration reached an impressive new scale in Bali. At the same time, dolphins and orcas remained under close observation, providing researchers with valuable insights into their lives and behaviour.
But July was also a reminder that conservation is unpredictable. Injured animals required urgent care, researchers documented difficult moments in the lives of wild populations, and teams adapted constantly to what nature placed in front of them. Alongside these challenges came moments of celebration, from community events and educational programs to new scientific opportunities and successful wildlife releases.
What connected all these stories was a willingness to stay curious, responsive, and committed. Whether following a dolphin at sea, watching a hatchling disappear beneath the waves, restoring a damaged reef, or giving a rescued animal another chance, July was about witnessing conservation in motion, with all its challenges, surprises, and reasons to keep going. 🌊🐋🐢🪸✨
Restoring Reefs at Scale and Building for the Future
Ocean Gardener x ClubOcean®
This month, Ocean Gardener continued to expand its coral restoration efforts in Nusa Penida, with 13,420 corals transplanted alongside the local fishing community. Of these, 10,000 fragments were planted across heavily degraded reef areas, while a new nursery was created for 3,420 Montipora fragments rescued following severe storms. These efforts demonstrate how restoration and community involvement can work together to rebuild damaged marine ecosystems.
Monitoring and research also remained central to the organization’s work. Between March and June, the team documented 147 spawning coral colonies across three sites in Bali, providing valuable new insights into coral reproduction. Meanwhile, the giant clam restoration program continues to show encouraging results, with 150 juvenile Tridacna maxima maintaining a 95.3% survival rate.
A major focus is also the construction of Ocean Gardener’s new permanent coral laboratory in Nusa Penida. Located directly beside the main restoration site, the facility will support research into coral reproduction, genetics, microfragmentation, and resilience to bleaching and rising ocean temperatures.
Through large-scale restoration, scientific research, training, and close collaboration with local communities, Ocean Gardener continues to strengthen the resilience of Bali’s reefs while developing new tools to protect them for the future. 🪸🌊🔬💙
Learn more about them here
Monitoring Orca Behaviour Through a Challenging Period
Orcas Iberians x ClubOcean®
July was an intense month of fieldwork for Iberian Orcas, with the team spending significant time at sea documenting the population and continuing its photo-identification, acoustic monitoring, sensor work, and underwater observations.
Particular attention was given to Lamari and her group following concerns that she may have lost her calf. The team closely monitored her behaviour, feeding activity, and overall condition, gathering valuable observations to better understand how orcas respond to the loss of a calf and how the group behaves during such a sensitive period.
Through continued time at sea, researchers collected important visual, acoustic, and behavioural data, contributing to a deeper understanding of Iberian orcas and supporting their long-term conservation.
The team is also responding to a serious case involving Tony, the oldest female orca, who was discovered with an apparent gunshot injury. The incident has been reported to the relevant authorities and is currently being investigated, with further information expected once the situation is officially clarified. 🐋🌊💙
Summer Celebrations, Arctic Awareness and Cultural Discovery
Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat x ClubOcean®
This July, the Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat welcomed more visitors as the summer holiday season began, creating new opportunities to connect the public with polar bears, Arctic conservation, and local culture. The month started with Canada Day, when Ganuk and Henry enjoyed special watermelon treats and red-and-white enrichment barrels.
On Arctic Sea Ice Day, the Habitat hosted a live virtual presentation with an Arctic researcher, highlighting her fieldwork and the vital importance of sea ice for polar ecosystems. To mark the occasion, a local company donated more than 60 bags of ice for the bears’ enrichment, an experience Henry particularly enjoyed.
July concluded with the annual Heritage Days Festival, which welcomed the Taykwa Tagamou First Nation hide preparation camp for the first time. Visitors had the opportunity to discover traditional hide preparation techniques and learn more about local Indigenous culture, while Henry showed plenty of curiosity toward the new scents and activities happening nearby.
Through wildlife enrichment, education, and cultural exchange, the month offered visitors new ways to learn about polar bears, their environment, and the communities connected to the North. 🐻❄️🧊🌿💙
Learn more about them here
Connecting Young Ocean Advocates with Sharks
Shark Guardian x ClubOcean®
This July, Shark Guardian continued to bring shark conservation directly into the field by welcoming groups of young international volunteers in Krabi, Thailand. Through educational sessions and hands-on experiences, participants learned about the importance of sharks, the threats they face, and the role everyone can play in protecting marine ecosystems.
The experience continued around Koh Phi Phi, where participants had the opportunity to snorkel with blacktip reef sharks in their natural environment. These encounters helped transform perceptions of sharks while introducing responsible and respectful ways of observing them underwater.
Education was also combined with citizen science, with participants recording shark sightings and contributing observations to marine research. They were also encouraged to share what they had learned through educational activities in Thai schools, extending the impact beyond the experience itself.
By connecting education, real-world encounters, and scientific participation, Shark Guardian continues to inspire a new generation of ocean advocates while building greater understanding and respect for sharks. 🦈🌊💙
Learn more about them here
Community Action for a Cleaner Kelan Beach
R.O.L.E Foundation x ClubOcean®
This July, the R.O.L.E. Foundation brought together 80 participants for a beach cleanup at Kelan Beach, including Bali WISE students, local students from SD 3 Tuban, staff members, and volunteers. The initiative combined hands-on environmental action with awareness, encouraging younger generations to take an active role in protecting Bali’s coastline.
During the cleanup, participants collected 237.46 kg of waste. Residue represented the largest share at 53.7%, followed by glass bottles at 23.3% and hard plastics such as bottles, cups, cutlery, and styrofoam at 13.6%.
All collected waste was carefully sorted and managed responsibly. Recyclable materials were sent to local Waste Banks, while residue and ghost nets were transported to landfill for proper disposal. Through these regular cleanups, the R.O.L.E. Foundation continues to bring communities together while helping preserve Bali’s coastal ecosystems. 🌊♻️💙
Learn more about them here
Hatchling Season Begins as Sea Turtle Rescue Efforts Intensify
Dekafok x ClubOcean®
July was one of the busiest months of the year for DEKAFOK, with the team dedicating its efforts almost entirely to sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and nesting season monitoring. During the month, six injured sea turtles were admitted to the rehabilitation center. Despite intensive care, two sadly did not survive, while three turtles successfully completed their treatment and were released back into the sea. One turtle remains under care after requiring the amputation of a severely damaged flipper.
July also marked an exciting turning point in the nesting season, as the first hatchlings began emerging on July 13th. By August 10th, hatchlings had emerged from 200 monitored nests, with DEKAFOK estimating that more than 10,000 baby sea turtles have already reached the sea. The team also recorded 187 hatchlings that unfortunately did not survive inside their nests, providing important data for ongoing conservation work.
With hatching expected to continue until the end of September, DEKAFOK and its volunteers remain fully mobilized along the coastline, monitoring nests, assisting hatchlings, rescuing injured turtles, and helping give the next generation of sea turtles the best possible start in life. 🐢🌊💙
Learn more about them here
Advancing Dolphin Research and Inspiring Future Marine Scientists
MORIGNEOS x ClubOcean®
This month, Morigenos continued its regular monitoring of bottlenose dolphins in the Gulf of Trieste, collecting valuable data on their presence, behaviour, and movements. This long-term research remains essential for understanding the local dolphin population and supporting effective conservation measures.
July also marked the return of Dolphin Day, bringing the team and local community together to learn more about dolphins, marine conservation, and Morigenos’ ongoing research. The event provided an opportunity to share scientific knowledge while strengthening public awareness and engagement.
Morigenos also welcomed student interns to the team, giving them hands-on experience in marine research and conservation. By combining long-term scientific monitoring, public outreach, and practical training, Morigenos continues to protect dolphins while helping inspire the next generation of marine scientists. 🐬🌊💙
Learn more about them here
From Rescue to Release: A Milestone Month for African Penguins
SANCCOB x ClubOcean®
This July, SANCCOB celebrated a major achievement with the successful release of 116 African Penguins, the organization’s highest monthly total so far this year. Many of these birds began their journey as chicks hand-reared in SANCCOB’s seabird nursery before completing rehabilitation and returning to the wild.
Veterinary and rehabilitation work remained intense throughout the month. One notable case involved an African Penguin that had swallowed a fishing hook, which was successfully removed through surgery. By the end of July, 183 seabirds were still receiving care across SANCCOB’s two rehabilitation centres for injuries, illness, oiling, malnutrition, and other conditions.
Research also provided important insights into the threats facing this Critically Endangered species. In the Eastern Cape, 18 penguins were admitted with injuries consistent with shark predation in July alone, the highest monthly number recorded this year. Post-mortem examinations of deceased birds also continued to provide valuable data on predation, disease, trauma, and other causes of mortality.
Beyond rescue and research, education remained central to SANCCOB’s mission. 2,548 learners and visitors took part in educational programmes during July, bringing the total to more than 27,000 people reached this year. Through rehabilitation, science, and education, SANCCOB continues to give individual seabirds a second chance while contributing to the long-term survival of African Penguins in the wild. 🐧🌊💙
Learn more about them here
3500$ donated this month
Thanks you ! Club Ocean® contributed $3,500 this May to fuel the essential work of our incredible partner organizations worldwide. From Bali’s coral gardens to the nesting beaches of Turkey and the dolphin-filled waters of the Adriatic, your support is making a real difference for ocean and polar wildlife. Together, we’re building a brighter, more sustainable future.
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The ClubOcean® team
