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On Sunday, the rescuers were able to deploy a series of nets from a kayak to trap the dolphin, more than six days after it was trapped in the pond, Peterson said.

The dolphin was then examined by a team of veterinarians, tagged and placed in a transport truck before it was released into the Gulf of Mexico.

Based on the dolphin's length, nearly 6 feet, it is likely still so young that it is still dependent on its mother and was part of a pod, Solangi said. It is unclear if the dolphin ate while it was in the pond, and the next step will be to track the dolphin to see if it is able to reunite with its group, he added.

Other than the freshwater lesions, the dolphin seemed to be in decent physical shape, Peterson said.

\"PHOTO:
NOAA and Institute of Marine Mammal Studies
PHOTO: A young male bottlenose dolphin was rescued from a retention pond in Slidell, La. and released back into the Gulf, Sept. 5, 2021.
>

While it is typical for wildlife to become displaced after large storms, the rescues tend to occur in rural areas, Peterson said. This event occurred in a suburban city and was met with fanfare, with up to 100 bystanders surrounding the pond, applauding as rescuers completed their efforts, Peterson said.

Peterson reminded the public to never try to handle wildlife themselves, even if they think they are being helpful.

\"The rule of thumb is watch from a distance,\" he said. \"If you're not sure if it needs help, call the right people, and they'll assist you and let you know.\"

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