Monday 6 February 2012

Dolphin Babies!

Dolphin Cove has been blessed to have five healthy and beautiful babies born in their breeding program. 

Dolphins have a gestation period of 12 months and will lactate for 18 months.

Dolphin babies known as "calves" are born tail first and are approximately 39–53 in length, weighing 22–44 lbs. 

The calf once born usually sinks to the bottom as it is not able to swim yet, the mother quickly lifts her calf to the surface for it's first breath and then spends about 3 minutes teaching the dolphin to swim; which it quickly learns....even though it looks a bit clumsy for a while.

In caring for her calf, a mother dolphin stays close by and attentively directs the calf's movements. The calf is carried in the mother's "slip stream," the hydrodynamic wake that develops as the mother swims.

Calves nurse under water, a process that takes approximately 15 - 30 seconds.  The mother's milk is more like a gel, allowing the baby to get a great deal in a very short period of time. 

Dolphins are also born with a mustache (tiny hairs on their upper rostrum (mouth)), one of the major characteristics of a mammal.  This mustache helps the calf in breast feeding and will eventually fall out.


Dolphin Cove truly loves their babies and it is amazing to watch as the handlers night after night perform their vigilant 24 hour watches, with the veterinarian checking in constantly, just to ensure that the babies and mothers receive the best postnatal care.

4 comments:

  1. I just have to know...Is Misty a Momma? I love this blog. I would love to see those babies. Thank you for such a great job on this blog site. It is my favorite!

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  2. Thank you so much.

    Misty is not a mother yet but she has assisted with other dolphin births as an "Auntie"

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  3. Wow, just like me. I just hope she does have the chance to have babies. If not though, being an Auntie is a wonderful thing! Thank you for responding!

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  4. I've been absent for a while, but now I remember why I used to love this web site. Thank you, I'll try and check back more frequently. How frequently you update your site?
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