CAMERON PARISH, La. — Wildlife officials rescued a dolphin found stranded in a Louisiana pond 9 miles inland most likely because of a storm surge caused by Hurricane Laura.
The female bottlenose dolphin was found Sept. 9, according to the Audubon Nature Institute. Once she was evaluated and deemed releasable, she was taken to the Gulf of Mexico.
Audubon Coastal Wildlife Network, Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network, and @NOAAFisheries rescued & released a female bottlenose dolphin back to the Gulf of Mexico. The dolphin was trapped most likely due to the storm surge created by Hurricane Laura: https://t.co/GRtfP94rwq pic.twitter.com/0WcZb2u00x
— Audubon Nature Institute (@AudubonNature) September 18, 2020
“This was a multiday and multi-organizational effort to rescue, transport and release this bottlenose dolphin,” said Gabriella Harlamert, Audubon Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding, Rescue and Rehab coordinator.
The Audubon Coastal Wildlife Network, which helped with the release, expects more reports of stranded animals as a result of the hurricane’s storm surge and coastal flooding.
Cox Media Group