SeaWorld Orlando's Discovery Cove welcomes baby dolphin

SeaWorld Orlando's Discovery Cove welcomed the addition of a newborn Atlantic bottlenose dolphin. Thelma was spotted swimming together with her newborn calf at Discovery Cove in Orlando. The calf was born Tuesday, April 20.

This is the twenty-second dolphin born at Discovery Cove since the park opened in 2000. Discovery Cove’s parent company, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, has one of the most successful dolphin breeding programs in the world with 130 dolphins born and currently living at the parks.

Discovery Cove is an all-inclusive family adventure where guests enjoy a one-of-a-kind opportunity to swim with dolphins, snorkel with rays and tropical fish, hand-feed exotic birds and relax on pristine beaches. To discover more, visit DiscoveryCove.com

source: http://www.myfoxorlando.com/dpp/entertainment/attractions/042310seaworld-welcomes-baby-dolphin

Minnesota Zoo dolphin relocated to Chicago

One of the Minnesota Zoo's beloved dolphins has moved to Chicago. The zoo says it relocated its youngest Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, Spree, to the Brookfield Zoo to provide a better social setting for her. They say the 8 year-old dolphin has had a hard time adjusting and fitting in with the other dolphins since her mother, Rio, died.


Three of Brookfield's young female dolphins had been staying at the Minnesota Zoo since last summer, while their habitat was renovated. During that time Brookfield and Minnesota Zoo officials worked together to aquaint them with Spree and create an environment for them to live together in.

The four were flown to Chicago Wednesday and re currently getting acclimated with their new home. They will go on display at the Brookfield Zoo over Memorial Day. The Minnesota Zoo now has three dolphins, Semo, April and Allie. Allie and Semo are expecting a baby this summer.


source: http://kstp.com/news/stories/S1515236.shtml?cat=1

Third Dolphin Born At Dolphin Quest Bermuda

Dolphin Quest is excited to announce that Ely, a six-year old Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, gave birth to her first calf at the “Keep” in the National Museum of Bermuda on April 13th. Ely’s calf was born at 9:35pm.




Dolphin Quest also recently announced that Caliban, a 17-year old Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, and Bailey, a 21-year old Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, both gave birth to calves at Dolphin Quest Bermuda on April 1st. Caliban’s calf was born at 12:28am and Bailey’s calf was born 18 hours later at 6:03pm. “Both new mom Ely and her calf are doing well and we continue to monitor them,” said Christine Mihelcic, General Manager for Dolphin Quest. “Bailey and Caliban are also doing their part and helping out our first-time mother.”

While this marks the first time Ely has given birth, it is the fourth time that Caliban has given birth in Bermuda. Caliban is also mom to dolphins Hayden, Tatem, and Bermudiana. Bailey has also given birth to four previous calves, Somers, Nea, Ely, and Malibar.

The first few months of a young dolphin’s life are critical, as babies learn to nurse and mothers and calves establish nurturing bonds. Dolphin Quest’s marine mammal specialists will be monitoring Ely, Caliban, Bailey and their calves on a 24-hour basis for the next several weeks.



source: www.dolphinquest.com/index.php/news_dqb041510

Two dolphins born on the same day at Dolphin Quest

The newborn calves arrived within 18 hours of each other on April 1, marking a double birthday for the marine park.Caliban, a 17-year-old Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, gave birth at 12.28 a.m. Staff were just helping to settle the calf in when along came baby number two, born to 21-year-old Bailey at 6.03 p.m.

"Both Caliban and Bailey delivered their calves rostrum (head) first, which although not unheard of, is rare," said Roma Hayward, Marine Animals manager. "The births went very smoothly, and mothers and calves appear healthy and active." Dolphins have a year-long gestation period and the first few months of a calf's life are critical, as they learn to nurse and establish bonds with their mother. Over the next several weeks Dolphin Quest's marine mammal specialists will be monitoring Caliban, Bailey and their calves on a 24-hour basis. Another new arrival is also expected as Ely, Bailey's daughter, is due to give birth within the next few days. All three dolphins were impregnated naturally by males Somers and Nimbus.

It is the fourth time Caliban and Bailey have given birth in Bermuda. The last new arrivals at the Dockyard Keep were in spring 2007 when they delivered calves within three days of each other. Ely was born to Bailey on June 3 and Bermudiana to Caliban on June 6. Cirrus, a 33-year-old Atlantic bottlenose, also gave birth to Luna on May 23, 2007. All three births were the result of artificial insemination using frozen semen brought to Bermuda from US marine parks part of a groundbreaking cetacean reproduction study in small population genetics.

Somers and Nimbus were recently moved to Dolphin Quest Hawaii. The pair were originally proposed to be sent to the MGM Mirage Resort, Las Vegas, as part of a 'breeding loan'. Last month however, they were moved to a sister facility. Christine Mihelcic, manager of Dolphin Quest Bermuda, said: "We were in talks with Las Vegas but decided to move them to our internal site on Hawaii's Big Island. "We made the decision looking at all the variables and the bigger picture. It was nothing in particular, but that was the best move for us at that time, looking at population and diversity."

Dolphin Quest plans to run a baby-naming contest in May, once the sex of the dolphins are known. The birth of Ely's calf will bring the population at the Bermuda facility to 12, the maximum allowed by Government.

source: www.caribdaily.com