SeaWorld Orlando recently welcomed an adorable dolphin calf to its family. The unnamed calf weighed in at 35 pounds and is 40 inches long, with the sex unknown at this time. Currently, the calf is nursing and bonding with its mom, Ariel, (in her mid teens, this is her fourth calf). Park guests can see the pair at SeaWorld’s Dolphin Nursery where pregnant dolphins, new mothers, their calves and experienced moms live together.
Bottlenose dolphins are known for their intelligence and social personalities, but here are some fun facts you might not know about them:
- Calves nurse for over a year (12-18 months), and stay with their mothers for 3-6 years learning how to feed and other important tasks.
- They got their name “bottlenose” because of their short and stubby beak.
- Both young and old dolphins chase one another, carry objects around, toss seaweed to one another, and use objects to invite each other to interact. Such activity may be practice for catching food.
- Dolphins frequently ride the bow wake or the stern wake of boats. They have been seen jumping as high as 4.9 m (16 ft.) out of the water and landing on their backs or sides, in a behavior called a breach.
To experience an intimate one-on-one encounter with a Bottlenose dolphin visit Discovery Cove for an unforgettable experience with one of the most amazing animals of the sea.
