Baltimore (May 4, 2004) – The National Aquarium In Baltimore announces the birth of an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin calf – the eighth birth at the Aquarium! Chesapeake gave birth yesterday after a two-and-a-half hour labor. The new calf is approximately three feet long, and the medical department estimates its weight to be about 30 pounds. More information will be forthcoming as available. Chesapeake, the calf’s mother, is 12 years old and was born at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. She gave birth to her first calf almost exactly three years ago on May 6, 2001. Her son Raven also lives at the Aquarium.
A calf’s first few weeks of life are precarious. The Aquarium does everything it can to ensure the health of the mother and her calf. During her pregnancy, Chesapeake received state-of-the-art prenatal care, including regular ultrasound examinations, from the Aquarium’s medical department, marine mammal staff and outside consultants. Staff and volunteers began monitoring Chesapeake 24 hours a day on February 29.
The marine mammal staff is even prepared to bottle-feed the calf a specially prepared formula if necessary. It is important to remember, however, that the survival of the calf ultimately depends on Chesapeake, its mother. Dolphin calves have high mortality rates whether they are born in aquariums or the ocean – 33% of calves die during the first year of life.
Visitors can see the mother and calf via recorded video broadcast of the nursery pool. The Aquarium will remain open, and though the dolphin show is temporarily closed, all other exhibits are open to visitors.
The National Aquarium in Baltimore, a non-profit organization, is Baltimore’s leading paid attraction, hosting more than 1.6 million visitors per year. The Aquarium’s mission is to connect people with aquatic life in order to create a better world for both. Its impact extends well beyond the walls through more than a dozen programs that serve the environment and the community.
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