The Stork Visits Chicago Zoological Society
Want some great news?
Babies! Babies are coming!
The Chicago Zoological Society announced recently that their dolphin families will be increasing this fall and winter. Three of the bottlenose dolphins – Allie, Noelani and Allison – are all due to give birth in the coming months!
This won’t be the first go-round for Allie, age 27, who has given birth to 4 calves in the past. But both Noelani, 11, and Allison, 9 will be first-time mothers entering into uncharted territory.
Although new and exciting, these pregnancies are a part of CZS and the Brookfield Zoo’s world renown dolphin program. Their veterinary and animal care staff have been diligently monitoring the dolphins and their unborn calves’ health over the past few months.
Remember the story of Magic the baby dolphin that the CZS staff hand reared for it’s first year? If you don’t, check it out – it’s an amazing tale of the love and dedication their staff have for animals.
The care being provided to these beautiful animals is possible because of trusting relationships the dolphins have with the animal care team and vet staff. As you can see in this picture, the pregnant dolphins voluntarily participate in their own medical care.
It takes both copious amounts of time and love to build relationships such as these.
And if you can handle even more great news, the female dolphins at the CZS have a calf success rate very similar to what is seen in the Sarasota Bay wild dolphin population.
The team is absolutely committed to the welfare of the dolphins and their impending little ones.
Just like human mothers-to-be, Allie, Noelani and Allison have been receiving pre-natal care and adjusted activity levels to reflect their more fragile condition.
It’s important to keep in mind that just like many other animals, childbirth and infancy are extremely delicate times and a dolphin birth is not considered successful until the calf is 1 year old. In the wild, almost 20 percent of calves born to first-time mothers do not survive to their first birthday.
The Chicago Zoological Society is optimistic for the future and we will wait with baited breath for the first pictures of the adorable dolphin babies to come!
We’ve written numerous times about AZA accredited institutions because they’re the best of the best. The CZS helps set the standard for the world as a member of this elite organization of zoological facilities. All members of the AZA abide by the strictest of standards and guidelines in all aspects of animal care and education and CZS is one of those facilities that lead by example.
If you’re ever in the Chicago area, you must make the Brookfield Zoo a destination visit.
Make sure you check them out. Click the link to learn more here!
