Shedd's New Dolphin Calf Is Now 'Kukdlaa' Thanks To Chicago Kids

By Mae Rice in Arts & Entertainment on Jul 13, 2016 7:15PM

Katrl and her new calf do a swim-by. ©Shedd Aquarium/Brenna Hernandez

The Shedd Aquarium's new dolphin calf is having a big week. He likely recently met Adele, and then today, he got his name: Kukdlaa. The name was chosen by a week-and-a-half-long popular vote, reserved for kids 18 and younger. Overall, more than 12,300 ballots were cast at the Shedd and online.

Pronounced KOOK-dlah, the name means "Bubbles" in Tlingit, the endangered language of indigenous people who live in the Pacific Northwest and areas to its north. These areas are natural habitat for Kukdlaa's species, the Pacific white-sided dolphin.

Born in mid-April to first-time mom Katrl (also a dolphin), Kukdlaa is at this point almost three months old. His slow-burn naming process has reportedly helped Chicago kids learn about dolphins and the environment.

“It was incredible to see how excited our young guests were, not only about seeing the dolphin calf, but learning more about the species and their place in our oceans,” Shedd President and CEO Bridget Coughlin said in a statement. “I saw this in action when a 10-year-old boy was voting. After he learned that these dolphins swim in ice cold waters, he asked if it was the same area where he knows ice is also melting. That’s an important connection that we helped that fifth grader make about animals and the environments they live in.”

Good job, dolphinbaby Kukdlaa. Only three months old, and you're already an educator.