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© Breeana Dunbar / WWF

Adopt a Whale

Our oceans are under increasing threats. You can help protect their future by symbolically adopting a whale mum and calf today.

THE PERFECT GIFT FOR ANIMAL LOVERS 🎁

Supercharge your impact by selecting an ongoing adoption from as little as $15 per month. You’ll receive regular email updates so you can see the difference your generous support is making.

Monthly donations make it easier to plan for the long-term, helping to keep administration costs down and providing a huge boost to vital conservation work. You’ll always be in control of your giving and can easily contact us should your circumstances change.

Protect whales on their ocean journeys

There is something truly awe-inspiring about whales. These intelligent, gentle giants travel vast oceans, playing a vital role in the health and balance of our marine environment, filling our oceans with life, wonder and beauty on their journeys across the globe.

But today, whales face growing threats. Entanglement in fishing gear, ship strikes, industrial noise and climate change are creating a hazardous and, at times, fatal obstacle course for whales travelling between breeding and foraging areas. As their habitats become more disrupted, mother whales and their calves are especially vulnerable along ancient migration routes that have sustained them for generations.

Please take action today to help protect whales and marine life. By symbolically adopting a whale, you join a community of caring, compassionate supporters committed to conservation, protection and a more sustainable future of our oceans.

When you sign up for an ongoing adoption, you’ll also receive updates on the impact of your kindness and dedication.

Looking to adopt a different animal?

Humpback whale and her calf swimming in the ocean.

Adopt a Whale

Whales face growing threats across our oceans. You can help protect their future by symbolically adopting a whale today.
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Platypus or Duck-billed platypus, Ornithorhynchus anatinus, swimming underwater in a river.

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Platypus are disappearing from our landscapes. You can help bring them back. Please take action now to protect them and their habitat.
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Wombat walking in Wilsons Promontory National Park= Victoria

Adopt a Wombat

Wombats are at risk of losing their habitats. You can help protect their future by symbolically adopting one today.
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A wild koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) climbing in its natural habitat of gum trees.

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Koalas are heading for extinction unless urgent action is taken. You can help turn this tragedy around by symbolically adopting a koala today.
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These endangered big cats desperately need your protection. Symbolically adopting a tiger today can help protect them from extinction.
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Quoll homepage banner

Adopt an Eastern Quoll

Eastern quolls are coming back home. You can help them avoid extinction and thrive once more by symbolically adopting one today.
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Green turtles swimming in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Adopt a turtle

Turtles are under threat like never before. With your help we can expand the marine sanctuaries that keep our endangered friends safe.
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Bornean Orang-utan (Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii) male baby 'Thor' aged 8-9 months peering from behind his mother. Camp Leakey, Tanjung Puting National Park, Central Kalimantan, Borneo, Indonesia, June 2010.

Adopt an Orangutan

These gentle apes are clinging to survival. You can help protect them from extinction by symbolically adopting an orangutan today.
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Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) coming back to shore, Antarctic Peninsula, January 2018.

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Adélie populations have fallen by more than 65% in the past 25 years. You can help protect them from extinction by symbolically adopting a penguin today.
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Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) cub in snow among bamboo, Sichuan Giant Panda Centre, Sichuan, China.

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By symbolically adopting a giant panda, your donation stands as a symbol of protection for all vulnerable and iconic species.
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Snow leopard (Uncia uncia) walking in snowy landscape (1000px)

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The survival of snow leopards is under threat. Adopt a snow leopard today and you’ll be helping to protect our planet’s precious wildlife.
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How your donation can protect whales

When you symbolically adopt a whale mum and calf, your caring support helps protect marine life like whales and the ocean habitats they depend on – supporting safer migration paths and marine sanctuaries that protect wildlife and keep them out of harm’s way.

Expanding marine sanctuaries

Whales are facing increasing threats from harmful fishing, ship strikes and industrial noise.

You are helping push for expanded marine sanctuaries to give whales more protected places to feed, breed and rest, safe from deadly threats.

Humpback whale breach
The loud splash of a breach can travel for kilometres and is likely used by whales to communicate with others in the pod. © Logan Pallin / Friedlaender Lab: Univ. of California, Santa Cruz

Protecting blue corridors

Whale migrations have no boundaries. As they traverse entire oceans, crossing national and international jurisdictions, they face growing threats.

By adopting a whale, you are supporting a collaborative global effort led by WWF to track whale migrations and advocate for protection where they need it most.

Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Wilhelmina Bay= Antarctica
Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Wilhelmina Bay, Antarctica © Michael Harte

Fighting climate change

Rising ocean temperatures pose a grave threat to whale migrations and their feeding patterns.

By adopting a whale, you will help ensure that whale protection and recovery are built into climate policies at every level – securing a healthier ocean for people, nature and wildlife.

We can't protect whales without you

When you adopt a whale, we want you to join them on their journey to a safer future. Your special adoption gift pack includes an optional cuddly mother and calf whale plush toy, factbook, adoption certificate, Living Planet magazine, and WWF sticker. If you sign up for an ongoing adoption, you’ll also receive updates on how your generous donations are helping to conserve and protect our oceans and the whales that live there.

Give a unique and memorable gift

A whale adoption is the perfect gift for any animal lover as well as a great way to inspire friends, family and loved ones to care for nature as much as you do.

We can send this gift pack to you or directly to your gift recipient. For last-minute gifts, you can print a personalised adoption certificate or email it directly to your gift recipient.

Adoption FAQs

Is my donation tax-deductible?

Yes – donations of $2 or more are tax-deductible.

Will I receive a tax receipt for my donation?

For ongoing monthly donations, we’ll send you a tax receipt at the end of financial year for all the monthly donations received. For single donations, we send a receipt shortly after each donation has been processed.

When will my adoption pack arrive?

You should expect to receive your pack in 10 – 15 business days, however please note there may be a slight delay in delivery due to external factors. If you donated by direct debit please allow up to five extra working days for your payment to clear. We’ll keep you posted via email as soon as the parcel is on its way. And if you want to beat the post, you can instantly download a copy of your adoption certificate via a link in the confirmation email.

Do you deliver outside Australia?

No, please note that we are not able to send adoption packs to addresses outside Australia.

What date will my donations come out of my account?

If you've opted to give via a credit or debit card, your first donation will be processed instantly. If you've chosen to pay via your bank account, the direct debit needs to be approved by your bank. This process can take up to a week. 

For regular gifts, your ongoing donations will be processed on the 24th of each month. If the 24th falls on a weekend or public holiday, the transaction will be processed the following day. 

If you've got any questions or concerns, please give us a call on 1800 032 551 or send an email to enquiries@wwf.org.au. We're available Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (AEST), excl. public holidays. 

What is the symbolic adoption program?

WWF‑Australia’s symbolic adoption lets you support a species without adopting a live animal. When you choose a wombat, koala, platypus, eastern quoll or another species, your donation funds vital conservation work, including restoring and protecting habitats, reintroducing species, and supporting research and advocacy. The animal in your adoption pack represents its entire species, so your gift benefits whole populations and ecosystems. It’s a meaningful way to make a lasting difference, whether for yourself or as a gift.

How will my donation be used?

Our planet’s wildlife is rapidly disappearing and funds from adoptions help protect some of our most important species. Monies raised from adoptions are unrestricted, helping support our wider work protecting wildlife and nature. As our work varies across species and projects and in response to our ever-changing environment, this ensures we have the flexibility to respond in the most impactful way.

Is my donation to WWF-Australia secure?

Absolutely. The WWF-Australia website is fully secure. All pages are encrypted using SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), which you can identify by the page address beginning with “https”.

All donations are processed securely by Stripe, a PCI DSS Level 1 certified payment processor—the highest level of certification in the payments industry.

Stripe uses advanced security measures—including encryption, tokenisation, and real-time fraud detection—to protect your credit card information during and after the transaction. WWF-Australia also works with partners who are required to maintain PCI DSS compliance and implement robust security controls.

Your trust is important to us, and we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of data protection.

What methods of payment are accepted?

We accept MasterCard, Visa and American Express. For single donations, we also accept PayPal.

How do I update my details?

You can easily update it on our secure web page here or you can email our Supporter Relations team: hello@wwf.org.au or phone 1800 032 551.

Can I choose whether I receive a toy or not?

Yes. It’s completely up to you whether you choose to receive a plush toy as part of your adoption. When choosing your pack, select “Just the pack” if you don’t wish to be sent a plush toy.

Is a plush toy guaranteed?

Contents of the welcome pack are subject to availability. If there is a delay or your chosen plush is no longer available, we will do our best to notify you as soon as possible and offer an alternative. To ensure delivery, please check if the address you have provided is correct before proceeding to payment.