Adopt A Species

Adopt a Marine Animal
& Help Protect Our Oceans

Our symbolic animal adoptions allow you to adopt a dolphin, whale, sea turtle, or albatross. Each symbolic adoption includes a personalized certificate and directly funds our ocean research and conservation work worldwide. Choose your species below to get started.

See All Adoption Options

What You Get With Your Adoption:

✔️ Personalized adoption certificate
✔️ Perfect for gifting
✔️ Photo of your adopted animal
✔️ Species fact sheet
✔️ Direct support for ocean conservation
✔️ Adoption fees (start at $40) are tax-deductible in U.S.

Adoption Options

Support real ocean conservation and research while giving a meaningful, personalized gift.

Adopt a Dolphin

Choose a wild bottlenose dolphin from Belize to adopt. Dolphin adoptions include a personalized adoption certificate, photo, and fact sheet.

See options →

Adopt a Whale

Choose a wild humpback whale from California to adopt. Whale adoptions include a personalized adoption certificate, photo, and fact sheet.

See options →

Adopt a Sea Turtle

Choose a sea turtle species to adopt. Our sea turtle adoptions include a personalized adoption certificate, photo, fact sheet, map, and more.

See options →

Adopt an Albatross

Adopt a Black-footed or Laysan Albatross from Midway or Kure Atolls. Albatross adoptions include a personalized adoption certificate, photo, and more.

See options →

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the adoption work?

To make your animal adoption, simply complete our adoption form and pay your tax-deductible fee via credit card. During checkout, you will choose the species or animal you want to adopt and will have the opportunity to provide a gift recipient's name and email address if needed.

For whale or sea turtle naming, additional information will be collected, such as the name you are giving the animal and who should be publicly recognized as the patron.

Can I give an adoption as a gift?

Absolutely! Most of our animal adoptions are given as gifts.

During checkout, you will have the opportunity to provide a gift recipient's name and email address if needed. You can have the materials sent to you to present to the gift recipient, or we can send the certificate directly to the gift recipient.

If you have any questions or concerns about the gift process, please contact us so that we can assist.

Is this a real adoption?

Our adoptions are symbolic in nature. Though the adopted animals are real, they are not in captivity. These are wild, free-swimming ocean animals, some of which are individually known through tagging or photo identification programs led by Oceanic Society and our partners. Our adoption program is a way to generate support for ocean research and conservation, and adoption fees are tax-deductible in the U.S.

How is my donation used?

Can I choose a specific animal?

How quickly will I receive my certificate?

Adoption certificates are fulfilled by our staff within 1-3 business days (Monday-Friday, excluding Holidays). This includes both digital and print adoptions. Print adoptions are mailed (in the U.S.) via USPS from our office in Ross, CA. Mail delivery times vary by destination.

If you need your certificate urgently or need to meet a specific deadline, please let us know before or after completing your adoption, and we will do our best to accommodate your request.

Still Have Questions?

Still have questions about our symbolic animal adoptions? Get in touch with our team and we'll get back to you with an answer as soon as possible.

Oceanic Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with headquarters in Ross, CA, USA (tax ID: 94-3105570). Your donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law. To request additional information or to make a donation by check, wire transfer, or stock transfer, please contact us.