Brookfield Zoo in Chicago has released heartwarming footage of a bottlenose dolphin giving birth — with a second dolphin stepping in to help during the delivery, reports AP/ UNB.
Allie, a 38-year-old dolphin, delivered her calf early Saturday as zoo veterinarians closely monitored the labor. In the video, staff cheer her on — “Push, push, push” — before the calf emerges and swims instinctively to the surface for its first breath.
Alongside Allie was Tapeko, a 43-year-old dolphin and experienced mother. She stayed by Allie’s side throughout the hour-long labor and gently guided the newborn upward to breathe — a critical action in the calf’s first moments.
“This type of cooperative behavior is very common among dolphins, both in the wild and in human care,” said Dr. Jennifer Langan, the zoo’s senior veterinarian. “It helps ensure the calf surfaces quickly and safely.”
The calf is reported to be healthy, weighing around 35 pounds (16 kilograms) and measuring approximately four feet long (115–120 cm), similar in size to a golden retriever.
Brookfield Zoo’s Seven Seas exhibit is temporarily closed to allow Allie and her calf time to bond and integrate with the rest of the dolphin pod. The calf has already begun slipstreaming — swimming closely in its mother’s wake to conserve energy.
Zoo staff will monitor the newborn over the next 30 days, tracking milestones like nursing, swimming, and weight gain. A paternity test is planned to identify the calf’s father.
The calf has not yet been named, but Brookfield Zoo plans to make an announcement later this summer.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
