5 MIN READ
02-05-2026
A Life Saved: Bird Rescued along the Ijo Gading River
Qubik & Fasta, 4ocean Foundation Jembrana Content Correspondent
A River Restored and a Life Saved
This cleanup, powered by the 4ocean Foundation crew, not only transformed a littered waterway into a free-flowing river, but it also saved a life.
The cleanup recently took place along the Ijo Gading River in Bali, which frequently suffers from a large influx of debris following overnight rain during the infamous Bali Rainy Season. 80% of the plastic pollution that ends up in the ocean is estimated to come from land-based sources, with rivers acting as the primary pathway.
When the crew arrived, they noticed trash rapidly floating downstream and immediately knew they had to get to work. They began mapping trapping points where drifting litter catches on mangroves along the banks, causing the waste to form large clusters. This required the team to carefully sort through each patch to remove trash, combing through large branches, bamboo pieces, styrofoam, plastic, cloth, and even harmful discarded fishing nets.
In the process of separating one of the masses, a crew member felt something shift inside. The tiny movement came from a juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron trapped within the debris, its left leg tangled in netting, unable to escape, and trembling from exhaustion.
The team immediately paused the cleanup operation and shifted their focus to rescue the animal in need. One crew member gently held the bird while another carefully and patiently cut away the netting wrapped around its leg, making sure to avoid causing any more harm.
Several minutes later, the bird was finally free. After what was likely countless hours of trying to break away from the cluster, the bird's wings drooped with fatigue. Unable to fly, the crew let the bird rest for a little while, then placed it in a safe spot within a shaded mangrove forest.
Let’s keep working together to eliminate waste in our water, protecting communities that rely on this irreplaceable resource and helping life not just survive, but flourish once again.
4ocean Foundation is the new nonprofit charitable arm of 4ocean, expanding and powering cleanups exclusively through donations and philanthropy. To learn more about their ongoing impact, visit 4oceanFoundation.org.
