Dolphin Birth 2005

Following the birth, staff observed several positive behaviors, including the calf resting in the “slip stream” of Tapeko’s dorsal fin. The slip stream is the hydrodynamic wake made by the mother as she swims. The calf stays close to the mom’s body, using her energy to glide through the water. In addition, the calf began nursing regularly soon after her birth. To track the calf’s development in its first year, staff will watch for other key stages, including its growth spurts and increased nursing efficiency, when it starts to eat fish, and when it becomes weaned and independent from Tapeko.

“We are cautiously optimistic,” said Melinda Pruett-Jones, curator of marine mammals at Brookfield Zoo. “Tapeko is an experienced mother. While a dolphin birth is not considered successful until the calf is at least a year old, we have seen encouraging behaviors that indicate a good start for the newborn,” added Pruett Jones.
Tapeko’s pregnancy was confirmed this past January and had been closely monitored by the zoo’s veterinary staff, who conducted routine ultrasound exams throughout the 12-month gestation period. Due to the mutual trust and respect between trainers and animals, Tapeko voluntarily cooperated during these exams, thus allowing staff to provide her with the best possible care. DNA testing performed in the zoo’s Conservation Genetics Laboratory confirmed the father is Hastings. The calf is his first.

Currently, visitors can see Tapeko and her calf in the Seven Seas underwater viewing gallery between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily. Dolphin presentations are scheduled to resume on Saturday, November 19.

For approximately two weeks, volunteers and staff will conduct observations of mother and calf around the clock, using EthoTrak, an electronic behavior monitoring program. This program was developed by a team of Brookfield Zoo computer programmers and biologists and is now used by other zoos around the country. Observers will be recording the slip-streaming behavior and nursing bouts. After the two weeks, observations will continue for about another six months to collect data on the development and behavior of the calf as well as the social dynamics of the family group.

Like all mammals, dolphins have hair, but the few around the rostrum they are born with fall out for good after only a few months. Calves are born with a darker pigmentation in their skin than the adults. This top layer sloughs off shortly after birth. They also have several vertical, light-colored lines on their sides, a result of fetal folding. These lines disappear within six months.

Brookfield Zoo has an ongoing formal program of wild dolphin research conducted by Dr. Randy Wells in Sarasota Bay, Florida. Now in its 32nd year, this is the world’s longest-running study of wild dolphin societies, focusing on all aspects of dolphin biology, including health, behavior, genetics and environmental interaction. While data from this program provide valuable information to staff managing dolphins at the zoo, information gleaned from the dolphins at the zoo help inform scientists on their field research.

Baby Films
Here is a zoo home movie---footage taken by one of our animal care staffers of the birth!. (Large Windows Media file---broadband connection required.) If you do not have Windows Media you can download it here by clicking on the tile below: