TITUSVILLE, Fla. (WFLA) — A heartwarming rescue unfolded off the shore of Brevard County, Florida, after a dolphin that was swimming with her calf was found entangled in the lines of a crab trap.
According to Hubbs SeaWorld Research Institute, the dolphin was spotted by boaters on Sunday just south of A. Max Brewer Causeway in Titusville. The boaters reported the incident to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The FWC then dispatched Hubbs SeaWorld Research Institute to help the dolphin in distress. The authorized responders led the rescue.
The Hubbs SeaWorld team monitored the dolphin until an opportunity to intervene presented itself.
Video provided by the sheriff’s office showed as the team managed to get the dolphin next to their boat. A rope could be seen wrapped around the dolphin’s tail.
It took several tries, but the team was eventually able to cut the rope away and free the dolphin. They then watched as the dolphin swam off with her calf.
According to the sheriff’s office, rescuers monitored the dolphin for a brief period of time to ensure she was breathing and swimming normally.
The team also removed the crab traps and ropes from the water to prevent any other marine life from becoming injured.
“I always say that it takes a community to protect a community, and this right here is not only a perfect example of how true that statement is but also, this is ‘The Good Stuff!!'” Sheriff Wayne Ivey said in a social media post.