A rare and moving moment took place at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago this Saturday morning: a female bottlenose dolphin gave birth to a calf under the encouragement of a veterinary team, with the unexpected but welcome support of another experienced dolphin mother.
The birth occurred in the early hours of the day. Allie, a 38-year-old female, was filmed swimming in her tank during labor, while veterinary staff encouraged her with cries of "Push, push, push." Through the water, the newborn's tail fins are first seen, before the calf frees itself completely and instinctively swims to the surface to take its very first breath.
This crucial moment was accompanied by Tapeko, another 43-year-old female dolphin who has already given birth several times. Present in the tank, she remained close to Allie for over an hour of labor and followed the newborn to the surface, watching over her first moments. This behavior is completely natural, zoo officials emphasize.
“It’s very common, both in wild populations and in controlled environments, for dolphins to assist each other during births,” said the zoo’s lead veterinarian, Dr. Jennifer Langan. “This provides the mother with additional protection and valuable assistance, particularly in allowing the calf to reach the surface while contractions are still very strong.”
Based on initial observations, the cub appears to be in good health. It weighs about 16 kilograms and is nearly 1,20 meters tall—the same size and weight as an adult golden retriever. For now, the zoo's "Seven Seas" exhibit is closed to the public to allow the cub to bond with its mother and adjust to its social group.
The baby dolphin has already begun slipstreaming, a technique that involves swimming in its mother's wake to conserve energy. Veterinarians will be closely monitoring its progress in the coming weeks, particularly in terms of nursing, swimming, and overall development.
A paternity test will be conducted later to identify the father among the zoo's males. The cub will be named this summer.
