CHICAGO (AP) — A pair of bottlenose dolphin calves were welcomed into the world at the Chicago Zoo early Saturday morning, with the remarkable moments captured on video by the zoo staff.
The dolphin calves were born at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, where a dedicated team of veterinarians monitored the process and cheered for Allie, the 38-year-old bottlenose dolphin.
In a video shared on Saturday, enthusiastic onlookers can be heard urging, “push, push, push!”
The calves instinctively swam to the surface, taking their first breaths. The tank also featured an experienced mother dolphin, Tapeko, 43, who was seen guiding the calf as it emerged for its inaugural breath.
During the birth, zoo staff noted that dolphins communicate and support each other.
“It’s quite common in both natural habitats and aquariums,” stated Dr. Jennifer Langan, Senior Veterinarian at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, in a video message. “The mother’s presence offers crucial protection and assistance, helping guide the calf to the surface for its first breath as she navigates through a tightly contracted moment.”
In an official statement, zoo representatives indicated that early assessments show the calves are in good health. Each is estimated to weigh around 35 pounds (16 kilograms) and stretch nearly 4 feet long (115-120 centimeters), comparable to the size of an adult golden retriever.
The zoo’s Seven Seas exhibit is currently closed to allow the calves to bond with their mothers and acclimate to the rest of their pod.
As part of this bond, the calves have already begun to slipstream and draft behind their mothers, conserving energy while moving. Veterinarians will closely monitor their nursing, swimming, and other developmental milestones over the next 30 days.
In time, the calves will undergo tests to determine their father from among the male dolphins at the zoo.
Zoo officials plan to announce the calves’ names later this summer.
Source: apnews.com