The male Bottlenose dolphin, LA-168, that has been undergoing rehabilitation at Audubon Aquatic Center, will finally be able to return home on Friday, October 1. This will be the very first successful rehabilitation and release of a dolphin for Audubon Nature Institute and Louisiana Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Rescue Program, which is coordinated by Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans. Other dolphins have been successfully rehabbed by Audubon staff but had to be relocated to other facilities due to their un-releasable status.

LA-168 was rescued from Rutherford Beach on Saturday, June 19. The male dolphin was severely underweight, weighing in at 230 pounds, and possessed several health issues including dehydration, pneumonia and parasites of the lungs, digestive track and brain. Although there was no visible oil, he had to be worked as a ‘suspect’ to determine if he was affected by the oil. Audubon staff is happy to report that the dolphin has conquered all the odds against him and weighs in at a very healthy 300-plus pounds.

 “A dolphin like LA-168 has less than a 20% chance of survival and his chance of being deemed releasable is even lower” says Michele Kelley. “The release of this dolphin truly shows the hard work and dedication of the staff and their will to never give up. The goal of any responsible rescue and rehabilitation program is to do everything they can to return the animal back to its home.”