Discovery Cove Baby Dolphin

A 3 ½ foot-long, 35-pound dolphin was born at Discovery Cove ® on Friday, November 30 at 10:22 a.m.

This birth is notable because it marks the first time a dolphin at Discovery Cove has successfully given birth to a calf conceived through the use of “sperm-sexing” research, which involves separating sperm carrying a female-producing X chromosome from sperm carrying a male-producing Y chromosome.

This scientific advancement affords Discovery Cove the opportunity to manage its species’ genetic diversity and social environment. Scientists at the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Reproductive Research Center in San Diego, Calif., pioneered the ability to preferentially produce female or male dolphin offspring though sperm-sexing and artificial insemination. This recent birth represents the 15^th dolphin calf produced worldwide using sex pre-selection technology.

The female calf is continuing to develop, nurse and bond with its mother; both are doing well. This is the 25^th dolphin born at Discovery Cove since the park opened in 2000. Discovery Cove’s parent company, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, has one of the most successful dolphin breeding programs in the world.

Discovery Cove is an all-inclusive day resort experience where guests enjoy a one-of-a-kind opportunity to swim with dolphins, snorkel with rays and tropical fish, hand-feed exotic birds and relax on pristine beaches. To discover more, visit DiscoveryCove.com

SeaWorld Animal Rescue Team: Family Finds Newborn Dolphin, Reunites Six Months After Rescue at SeaWorld Orlando

Six months after finding an approximately five-day-old dolphin while boating in Florida waters, the family that alerted the appropriate authorities and stayed with the young calf until help arrived was reunited with the dolphin at SeaWorld Orlando.

During his rehabilitation at SeaWorld Orlando, the young dolphin has been treated for lungworms, pneumonia and other health-related issues but no longer needs to be on medication. His weight has also tripled while being in SeaWorld’s care, another positive indicator that his health is progressing.

SeaWorld Animal Rescue Team Background Info:

SeaWorld animal rescue team traveled to Three Sisters Island, in Volusia County, Fla. on May 20 to rescue the stranded newborn dolphin calf. Weighing slightly less than 35 pounds at the time, the male calf was found stranded in shallow waters under a mangrove. SeaWorld’s animal care experts believed the dolphin to be no more than five days old due to its size, the upright stature of its dorsal fin and the attached umbilical cord at the time of rescue. The youngster was probably separated from his mother before becoming stranded.

The successful rescue was made possible by a collaborative effort: the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute initially checked on the state of the young calf, and SeaWorld was able to rescue it shortly after – following authorization by NOAA Fisheries Service.

SeaWorld’s animal rescue team is on call 24/7 to save and care for injured, orphaned or ill animals. This was the first bottlenose dolphin to be rescued this year