Seven-Day-Old Dolphin Calf Dies at Brookfield Zoo

Photo courtesy of the The Chicago Zoological Society.

Despite veterinary and marine mammal staff intervention, a seven-day-old male bottlenose dolphin died Friday evening at the Brookfield Zoo.

The male dolphin was born Dec. 12 to 9-year-old new mother, Allison, according to a Chicago Zoological Society news release.

Following the birth, staff observed several key milestones. These included nursing and slipstreaming, which is when the calf is able to rest next to the mom while she is on the move. A mother makes this hydrodynamic wake as she swims.

But after a few days, the swimming patterns of Allison and her calf changed, according to the news release. The marine mammal care team intervened in the mother-calf relationship “to provide supportive treatment,” but the calf died late Friday evening.

Complete necropsy results should determine if other factors contributed to the death.

“It is always a difficult decision, and one never taken lightly, whether or not to intervene when a calf appears to have challenges,” said Bill Zeigler, senior vice president of collections and animal care for the society, in the news release. ”One of our goals in animal care is to allow an inexperienced mother the chance to gain maternal experience, which is learned. The marine mammal and veterinary team did everything possible to save the calf and is extremely saddened by the loss.”

This is the second death of a bottlenose dolphin calf this month. First-time mother, 11-year-old Noelani gave birth to a male calf on Dec. 5. The birth appeared normal, the society reported, but the calf died that same day.

A female bottlenose dolphin calf was also born recently, on Dec. 16, to 27-year-old veteran mother, Allie. Allie had given birth four times before.

The three mothers, Allison, Noelani and Allie, conceived around the same time, and their pregnancies were announced together on Nov. 7. The society stated that first time mothers and their babies are considered to be at a higher risk, and most baby dolphins in the wild are at the highest risk in their first year of life.

“Staff members are now focused on the care and well-being of the dolphin group that includes five adult females; two male 1-year-old calves, Merlin (mother-reared) and Magic (successfully hand-reared by staff)” and Allie’s female calf.

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