Photos: Brookfield Zoo's Dolphin Calves Acclimating Well

By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Dec 10, 2013 11:20PM

Back in October we wrote about the new dolphin calf born at Brookfield Zoo. Today animal care specialists for the Chicago Zoological Society announced that the eight-week-old calf, the fifth born to Tapeko, and a six-week-old calf born to another dolphin continue to do well.

“We are pleased with the progress the handreared calf has made during his first six weeks of life,” said Jennifer Langan, DVM, Dipl. ACZM, associate veterinarian for the Society. “However, he still remains in guarded condition as he has several milestones he needs to achieve over the next few months before we would consider his situation less critical, including eating solid fish on his own, being introduced to the other members of the dolphin group, and finally becoming independent.”

The younger calf is being handreared by specialists after it was discovered his mother, 11-year-old Spree, was providing inadequate care. He's spent the majority of his time in a "nursery" pool and monitored 24 hours a day by marine mammal staff and has gained weight. The calf is on a dolphin milk formula but specialists initially fed him milk gathered from Spree.