A Grand Isle, Louisiana pond has witnessed an extraordinary occurrence since Hurricane Ida’s impact in 2021: a mother dolphin and her baby finding refuge there. It is believed that the pair became displaced by flooding and subsequently became trapped as the water receded. Fortunately, a collaborative effort between the Audubon Coastal Wildlife Network, alongside other organizations, led to the dolphins being returned to the ocean in June of this year.
To transport the mother and her calf, the team had to drive them to the Gulf of Mexico. This involved carrying them ashore and placing them in the back of a van, as reported by CBS. Throughout the journey, wildlife rescuers ensured their well-being by periodically moistening them with water-soaked sponges.
(The screenshot is taken from Audubon Nature Institute’s Facebook page.)
The Audubon Nature Institute, in a Facebook post, clarified that the timing of the relocation was determined by the calf’s readiness to be moved to an area with open water access. They also emphasized that such cases are not uncommon, as storm surges and increased coastal flooding caused by hurricanes often result in marine mammals and sea turtles being stranded on land or washed into inland waterways where they are not typically found, such as lakes, ponds, and canals. Trained and authorized responders are then required to rescue these animals and return them to their natural habitat, a process that can take weeks to months.
(The screenshot is taken from Audubon Nature Institute’s Facebook page.)
Upon reaching their destination, the dolphins were returned to the water in the same manner they were carried out. With a final push of encouragement from the rescue team, the mother and calf swam freely into the open waters.