It’s A Boy!
Article and Image Source: The Chicago Tribune
How’s this great news for a holiday gift?
The Chicago Zoological Society, manager of the Brookfield Zoo, has just announced the birth of its eighth bottlenose dolphin.
First-time mom Allison, age 9, has given birth to a beautiful baby boy!
Born on Friday, the new baby is 35 to 40 pounds and measures 3 1/2 feet long.
If you remember from our announcement article, a dolphin birth is not considered successful until the calf reaches one year old. But the staff has already witnessed crucial milestones!
Both nursing and slipstreaming, when a calf is able to rest in its mom’s wake while she swims, are already taking place.
“We are encouraged with the behavior we are seeing from both Allison and the calf,” Rita Stacey, curator of marine mammals for the Chicago Zoological Society, said in a news release. “However, we remain cautiously optimistic as the first 30 days are extremely critical in the calf’s life.”
Hopefully, Allison will take mental notes from a reliable role model.
Allison and her calf are in the Seven Seas main habitat along with three other dolphins: experienced mom Tapeko, 33; her 1-year-old son Merlin; and his 1-year-old half-brother, Magic.
“The current grouping mimics what occurs in the wild,” Stacey said. “Dolphins are gregarious and form fluid social groupings throughout their lives. Mothers often form groups with other females who help in raising their young. Having successfully raised several calves of her own, including Merlin, Tapeko is a wonderful role model to Allison.”
As it should be, the Seven Seas habitat is closed indefinitely to allow Allison and her calf time to bond.
Want more information? Check out Brookfield Zoo’s website for updates.
