A female bottlenose dolphin who became stranded in a shallow lagoon in Bluffton, South Carolina, following heavy rainfall and high tides, has been rescued and relocated to her natural habitat thanks to a strategic and collaborative rescue effort, according to local news.
After the trapped animal was spotted, the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network (LMMN) was notified and dispatched a team to the scene. Realizing additional support was needed, they contacted the Bluffton Township Fire District, which sent over firefighters trained in technical water rescues.
With help from local residents, the crews eventually managed to guide the nearly 8-foot-long, 400–500-pound dolphin onto a marine rescue tarp. Then, rescuers carried her roughly 75 yards through challenging terrain — including fallen trees, debris, and over a steep embankment—loaded her onto a padded utility trailer, and drove her to a private dock a few miles away.
Once there, responders performed a brief health check, poured water over her, and carefully walked her down the dock in the tarp before finally releasing her into the May River.
“This was a textbook example of interagency teamwork and calm under pressure,” LMMN’s Executive Director Lauren Rust said.
Lady Freethinker is grateful to everyone who played a role in this incredible rescue, helping ensure this dolphin could return safely to her home.
