After years of swimming in circles inside small tanks, three dolphins finally felt the waves of freedom, and the moment brought tears to those lucky enough to witness it.
Rocky, Rambo, and Johnny spent most of their lives forced to entertain crowds at a circus and later at a hotel. Instead of joyfully gliding through the ocean, they were reportedly kept hungry so they would obey orders, made to perform tricks for tourists, and suffered both emotional stress and declining health. Johnny, the eldest, had it the hardest, his teeth were so worn down they had receded below his gums.
Their story changed when the Dolphin Project, alongside the Indonesian government, rescued the trio and brought them to the Umah Lumba Rehabilitation, Release and Retirement Center in Bali. “They were underweight, malnourished, and were suffering from a number of serious physical injuries,” Umah Lumba shared in a press release. But slowly, the dolphins healed. They relearned how to hunt, skillfully catching fish again, and even Johnny received dental treatment that gave him new teeth.
Then came the day everyone was waiting for. After a thorough evaluation, it was decided the dolphins were ready to go home, the open sea. On release day, Rocky, Rambo, and Johnny were given a choice: remain in the sanctuary or swim away. All three chose freedom.
Lincoln O’Barry, who worked with the Indonesian government to establish Umah Lumba, recalled the breathtaking moment: “They turned back around and came back to us one more time, almost to say thank you and goodbye. And then they headed straight out to the open ocean and disappeared. Where they head next, we don’t know. But we wish them a good, long life.”
For a few months, that’s exactly what they had. Johnny, the oldest, passed away from natural causes not long after. Though saddened, his rescuers were grateful knowing his final days were spent where he belonged, free, in the ocean.
Today, Rocky and Rambo continue to swim wild, a reminder that animals, just like us, are happiest in their natural space, where they can play, build bonds, and live without fear.
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