Orphaned Baby Dolphin Rescued from Texas Lake

It's a dolphin-eat-dolphin world out there, and some come to learn that a bit too well.

A young dolphin was spotted swimming alone in a lake along the Texas Gulf Coast, sparking rescue and concerns as to how it wound up there.

According to a Facebook post from the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network (TMMSN) , the dolphin's mother was found dead and washed ashore not too long ago.

Thanks to the immediate action taken from rescue teams  across TMMSN, San Antonio SeaWorld, the Texas Parks and Wildlife and NOAA Fisheries Service--along with other local partners--little 'flipper' was able to be saved.

In a rescue mission that required four separate boats and tons of them there brain smarts, the dolphin was transferred to a rehabilitation facility to recover.

Originally, she was set to be transferred to a facility in Galveston, but since Hurricane Beryl disrupted much of the Texas coastal wildlife, she was instead taken to SeaWorld in San Antonio.

See Something, Say Something

If you come across a dolphin, or any other marine mammal, that is trapped in an unsuitable habitat in Texas, call the stranding hotline report your findings: 1-800-9MAMMAL (800-962-6625).

NOAA Fisheries also provide steps to follow if you see Free Willy acting not-so-free:

• Keep your distance to avoid further stress and risk of injury
• Call the local stranding hotline and provide a photo of the animal if possible
• Wait for the responder to arrive at a safe distance from the animal
• Keep others away from disturbing the area and retain a calm atmosphere until help arrives