What Type of Care Does a Baby Dolphin Need?
Dolphins give birth to a baby, or calf, approximately every three years. Calves are born in the water, and are usually delivered tail first. During the birthing process, the umbilical cord snaps off, allowing the baby dolphin to swim freely to the mother's side. Baby dolphins weigh between 22 and 44 pounds at birth and are a darker color than adult dolphins. Once born, calves receive special care from their mothers for up to 6 years, before they are ready to leave their mother's side.
Other People Are Reading
-
Nursing
-
Within six hours after being born, a baby dolphin will be nursing. A calf needs to nurse at least four times an hour during the first week of life. After the first week, babies will nurse anywhere from three to eight times per hour. During each nursing session, the calf will only suckle for an average of eight seconds. Mother dolphins will nurse their babies under the water, but close to the surface. A baby dolphin generally nurses until the age of 18 months.
Learning to Swim
-
The mother dolphin will stay close to the baby while it is learning to swim properly. While the mother swims, a slip stream is created for the baby dolphin to glide in. This slip stream is a hydrodynamic wake that allows the baby dolphin to remain in the mothers path, by her side, while developing the swimming skills that are crucial to survival. The mother will whistle for her baby and the calf will learn to recognize the whistle, coming to her when he hears the call. The calf will imitate his mother's movements, learning to swim to the surface, dive down and roll over.
-
Beyond Nursing
-
Somewhere between three and four months of age, the baby dolphin will begin to develop teeth. When under the care of zoologists, captive baby dolphins will begin eating a few fish once those teeth have come in. Calves will continue to nurse for another year after they begin eating fish, and the mother's milk will remain an important part of the baby's daily nutrients.
Auntie dolphins
-
The auntie dolphin is another dolphin, either a male or a female, that helps the mother dolphin care for her baby. The auntie is the only other dolphin that the mother will allow to go near her calf. The auntie will stay with the baby while the mother goes out to search for food. He or she will play with the baby also. Although the mother is the primary caregiver, the baby dolphin spends a lot of time with the auntie as well.
-
References
- Photo Credit NA/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
