Back to the Blue - Captive Dolphins return to the Wild

Tom and Misha, two bottlenose dolphins, were originally captured from the wild off the coast of Turkey and were subsequently used to perform and provide ‘swim-with’ opportunities for tourists in captive facilities. Following a campaign in 2010, spearheaded by the Born Free Foundation and a local network of concerned individuals known as the Dolphin Angels, Tom and Misha were rescued and re-homed to a specially constructed sea-pen, in partnership with Turkish NGO, S.A.D., where they underwent an extensive programme of rehabilitation prior to their release on 9th May 2012.
The Back to the Blue project not only aimed to rescue these two individuals from an appalling situation but also to highlight the plight of captive dolphins and the repercussions of the increasing impact of ‘swim-with’ opportunities on the animals concerned.
Tom and Misha were caught from the wild and expert analysis suggested they retained some of the survival skills that they had developed in their wild environment. Captivity had, however, undoubtedly not only eroded their fitness but also replaced their reliance on their wild behaviours with dependence on their trainers.

[@anabelaustegui9328]

I'm so glad there're people like you working hard to make things right. Thank you♥

[@billionairespelunker]

this is absolutely incredible! i hope this can be done for all marine animals in captivity some day. amazing work!

[@Nathaliaaa666]

Free at last Im so happy for Misha and Tom they have made history thank you Born Free Foundation!

[@kimallen5438]

What a wonderful group of people bless them all.

[@Dakers11]

Such an immense effort to free these 2 Dolphins. Jeff Foster and the Born Free Foundation and the Turkish NGO, S.A.D. are the real super heroes. "If you pursue good with Labor. The Labor passes away but goodness remains".- Marcus Tullius Cicero.

[@bdreamwolfc]

Thank all of you !! I have tears of joy again for the hope like you say in article that Lolita, Morgan and others will get this chance to be free again.

[@susangaston6645]

I like when they let them out, one left first and the second came barreling out as if to say "hey, wait on me!!" Precious! Now we need to start working on getting all of them out!!

[@alyssarenee5713]

Great work ! Save the animals at SeaWorld next.

[@evawahyu137]

They're saving dolphins.. meanwhile in Taiji.. Thousands dolphins had been killed in drive hunt every year... hope we can save Taiji Dolphins

[@cambridgeratmom]

Thank you for taking such good care in releasing them. And, of course, for releasing them. They are back where they belong.

[@hazeyhazey289]

Wow I am so thrilled for Tom and Misha. Thankyou for giving them back their freedom.

[@StephanieFalco]

Wonderful work! Let's hope one day none of that will be needed when humans finally stop acquiring wildlife as trophies or money makers...

[@Chris-V2011]

Thank you,we need so many more people like you guys ♥

[@Whoknows867]

Everything' about this! Yes! Exactly how you free the animals! Ugh my heart is so full watching this

[@lornamcallister9944]

THIS IS THE BEST THING OH MY GOD THERE IS HOPE FOR ALOT OF CAPTIVES NOW i am so happy thank you so much

[@lenvarias3578]

these are the real animals Trainor,,they not create just bond but a relationship on how to understand both beings(: see how happy the dolphins are when they touch their real home,,,you cannot understand but you can feel that they we're glad being home(: I hope people will change for the better (:

[@P1NKBLUSH]

Thank you for the amazing work and for sharing this incredible story with us!

[@lynnjenkinson7881]

Thank you so much!!!

[@lauriebrauss3328]

Thank You Born Free!!!!

[@Meanclothing]

Amazing work! Thank you.

[@natjaa]

Thank you for doing what you do!

[@reachinghigher4259]

It's a shame that Keiko died after being freed. I don't think he ever really got used to being out in open water before pneumonia took its toll.

[@bennystropicalswimmigwolf8691]

great job!!!! .•*¨*🐬 raise awareness of dolphin captivity! ¸¸.•*¨*🐬

[@BLACK-TAR-FENT]

get the killer whales now

[@milanka882]

What? Seriously you sound like one sick person.

[@moonros21]

Thank you for your great job!!!!

[@t.angelbuddy6805]

Fantastic job please keep doing it

[@marismetan5631]

Just beautiful --

[@diykawaii5383]

This is amazing

[@k-leeinit8186]

Great effort everyone!!!

[@shiraytan7885]

Thats amazing! 😀 great job heros ❤💪

[@lindat5784]

i love the fact that they are being released but i have a question- will they recognize who hunts them? for years they haven't been hunted, how do you train them for that, especially ones born in captivity?

[@porpus99]

How are they doing in with their interactions with other dolphins? Dolphins are naturally social animals, I see them all the time while out boating (we never feed them or physically interact, only watch). Have the two managed to integrate into pods or are they more solitary?

[@SB-ll1tt]

BEAUTIFUL!

[@stalonico]

there have been sightings of dolphins on the south coast of Cyprus recently. That's extremely rare. it could be them! :)

[@icharful]

Amazing work

[@movement2contact]

Is there a follow-up video? I don`t think they just swam away like that and never came back..?

[@bornfreefoundation]

movement2contact Former captive dolphins, Misha and Tom were released into the wild in May 2012. Using remote sensing, electronic trackers, Born Free was subsequently able to follow Misha and Tom via satellite until October 2012 & November 2012 respectively. The two male bottlenose dolphins had separated but both were doing well, swimming vast distances near to the Turkish coast in the Mediterranean. It was clearly the case that after many months of careful preparation as part of the Back To The Blue project, they had successfully transitioned from their former captive lives. Since then, there have been a number of reported sightings of Tom, specifically close to coastal areas. We have no further news about Misha. However, based on the evidence, Born Free believes that both dolphins are living free in the wild, where they belong.

[@myfalsenamedotcome]

movement2contact Ah, ah! You don't think they never came back?! ... Sure. They must need human beings soo bad right now, I'm sure they can't cope on their own in this magnificent world. Wake up! This world doesn't revolve around us, quite the opposite.

[@kennymccormick2264]

+Born Free Foundation what are the chances of Tom and Misha finding their family pods? There are reports of rehabilitated dolphin Sampal finding it's pod near South Korea.

[@kennymccormick2264]

+Born Free Foundation did your behavioural experts expect Tom and Misha to stick together?

[@myfalsenamedotcome]

+Born Free Foundation I just wonder how much those electronic trackers interfere with whatever dolphins are able to perceive. The fact that we humans don't seem to capture their radio waves or whatever they produce, doesn't mean dolphins are not affected by them and maybe also in a pretty disruptive way. Never occurred to you guys that their subsequent behavior after the release in the wild might be also be dictated or influenced by those trackers and their possible interference?

[@lisamartin3734]

The end of their noses looked so raw and sore.

[@gorgeousnell2223]

So so beautiful

[@heretik111]

Please turn the background music down. I'm interested in what the guy had to say and could barely hear him. Annoying and distracting.

[@cuteus51]

How do you know they were not recaptured? especially since the criminals had the aid of a satellite tracking program. And they might be performing again in captivity. It would be nice if the plan to release included the avoidance of recapture, but that will probably not happen in my lifetime. Good job in making them healthy enough to survive!

[@theanonymousyoutuber74759]

Wonderful

[@kylieandrews4836]

Aw they well Happy 🐬🐬good luck

[@KatherineUribe-1]

Free at last! God's speed, guys!

[@GiovanniSacheli]

Good story :D I'm happy!

[@babettelewis5771]

No more human intervention! Finally, I'm very impressed. Isn't it dangerous to them to have all that expensive equipment on them? I wish they could just anonymously disappear into the wild, where they belong.

[@tangmusic]

What's the news on them now? Are they together still?

[@bornfreefoundation]

Andy Nathan Former captive dolphins, Misha and Tom were released into the wild in May 2012. Using remote sensing, electronic trackers, Born Free was subsequently able to follow Misha and Tom via satellite until October 2012 & November 2012 respectively. The two male bottlenose dolphins had separated but both were doing well, swimming vast distances near to the Turkish coast in the Mediterranean. It was clearly the case that after many months of careful preparation as part of the Back To The Blue project, they had successfully transitioned from their former captive lives. Since then, there have been a number of reported sightings of Tom, specifically close to coastal areas. We have no further news about Misha. However, based on the evidence, Born Free believes that both dolphins are living free in the wild, where they belong.

[@zoeyoung3864]

Born Free Foundation More power to you and well done.without you so many more animals would be suffering. Respect my friends.

[@hazeyhazey289]

Is there any news on them?

[@bornfreefoundation]

Hazel Woolls Former captive dolphins, Misha and Tom were released into the wild in May 2012. Using remote sensing, electronic trackers, Born Free was subsequently able to follow Misha and Tom via satellite until October 2012 & November 2012 respectively. The two male bottlenose dolphins had separated but both were doing well, swimming vast distances near to the Turkish coast in the Mediterranean. It was clearly the case that after many months of careful preparation as part of the Back To The Blue project, they had successfully transitioned from their former captive lives. Since then, there have been a number of reported sightings of Tom, specifically close to coastal areas. We have no further news about Misha. However, based on the evidence, Born Free believes that both dolphins are living free in the wild, where they belong.

[@hazeyhazey289]

I am completely moved by the story of these two dolphins. I had half hoped that they would have stayed together when released but then I realise they were not together by choice in captivity. I hope there are many other dolphins and orcas that will one day swim free again. Thankyou very much for your response and your amazing work.

[@homersimpson2512]

Freedom for Dolphins

[@AlexisOmnis]

Why is there footage in this video, of two dolphins, with white sunburn scars around there blowholes, when the rest of the footage is of two dolphins with no scars? Who are the dolphins with sunburn scars?

[@AlexisOmnis]

From 2:20 - 2:27

[@atalanteism]

This reintroduction program gives me hope in a better Future! The World is better with people like you. Now the emergency is to stop TAIJI JAPAN degenerates that slaughter dolphins!

[@hyliahoang542]

I feel exactly the Same! This is great to free those wonderful Animals! TAIJI JAPAN 6-Months non-stop Dolphins' slaughtering is heartbreaking

[@equarg]

Good luck you two. Swim free and stay away from man!

[@amelias6858]

Sigh... good feeling

[@JessicaRodriguez-dt6dp]

I 💜dolphins??🦈🦈

[@ernanileal1559]

``return to the wild´´

[@antoniojoaquimlucaslucas7476]

They still in prision,watt you want its to know weres the others, to persuit them as enterteinement...

[@pipessociety2749]

I wonder why they are doing this? They sacrifice loads of fish to save two dolphins. Seems wiser to work on shutting down dolphin shows so they stop captivating them.

[@sanforce]

Born Free specializes in returning animals to either the wild, or less captive environments (when they cannot be completely reintroduced for the animals safety). They are doing this because it's their mission to help captive animals have a better end to their life than the start - it's a pretty noble goal, even if it's difficult or expensive.