Brookfield Zoo Welcomes Dolphin Calf After Labor

Brookfield Zoo Welcomes Dolphin Calf After Labor \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ A 38-year-old bottlenose dolphin named Allie gave birth at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, aided by fellow dolphin Tapeko during a one-hour labor. The calf instinctively swam to the surface for its first breath in a moment captured on video. Zoo staff say the newborn is healthy, and bonding is underway.

Quick Looks

• Dolphin Allie gave birth early Saturday at Brookfield Zoo Chicago.
• The birth was supported by Tapeko, a 43-year-old dolphin with maternal experience.
• The successful labor was captured on video by zoo staff.
• The calf immediately swam to the surface for its first breath.
• Social support during dolphin births is common in wild and captive environments.
• The calf is estimated to weigh 35 pounds and measure about four feet long.
• Seven Seas exhibit will remain closed to allow mother-calf bonding.
• The calf has started slipstreaming beside Allie to conserve energy.
• Veterinarians will closely monitor nursing and early developmental milestones.
• The calf’s paternity will be determined via genetic testing.
• A name for the calf will be announced later this summer.

Deep Look

In a remarkable and heartwarming moment caught on camera, Brookfield Zoo Chicago welcomed a new bottlenose dolphin calf early Saturday morning, the product of a closely monitored and supported birth led by Allie, a 38-year-old dolphin and longtime resident of the zoo’s Seven Seas exhibit. The birth marked a major milestone for the zoo’s dolphin care program and offered rare, up-close insights into dolphin maternal behavior and social bonding.

As labor progressed, a team of veterinarians and animal care specialists observed from the sidelines, encouraging Allie as she swam steadily through the tank, her contractions intensifying. In footage released by the zoo, observers can be heard cheering “Push, push, push,” as the calf’s tail fins emerged just below Allie’s own. Then, in a quick final movement, the newborn wriggled free and instinctively darted toward the water’s surface, taking its very first breath—a key milestone in dolphin births.

By Allie’s side throughout the process was Tapeko, a 43-year-old fellow bottlenose dolphin and experienced mother, who played a vital role as a birth companion. Tapeko stayed close during the more than hour-long labor, shadowing the calf as it surfaced and standing by Allie as she completed the birthing process.

According to Brookfield Zoo’s senior veterinarian, Dr. Jennifer Langan, this kind of companionship is completely natural. “That’s very common both in free-ranging settings and in aquaria,” she explained. “It provides the mom extra protection and a little bit of help getting the calf to the surface to breathe in those first crucial minutes when contractions are still intense.”

Initial assessments indicate the calf is healthy. Zoo officials estimate the newborn weighs approximately 35 pounds (16 kilograms) and stretches nearly four feet (115–120 cm) in length—comparable in size to a full-grown golden retriever. The calf is now entering a critical 30-day period where veterinarians will monitor its nursing behavior, swimming ability, and early developmental milestones with particular care.

One of the first behavioral signs of bonding, already observed, is “slipstreaming”—a technique where the calf swims in its mother’s wake to conserve energy. This behavior helps young dolphins keep pace with their mothers while learning to navigate the tank’s environment.

For now, the Seven Seas exhibit will remain closed to give Allie and her calf space to bond and integrate with the rest of the dolphin group in a calm, controlled environment. Staff will gradually reintroduce the calf to its social group as it continues to grow and develop.

As for the calf’s father, his identity has yet to be confirmed. The zoo plans to conduct a genetic paternity test in the coming weeks to determine which of its male dolphins sired the calf. Brookfield Zoo houses several males in its dolphin group, but the mating pair has not been definitively tracked.

A name for the calf is also in the works and is expected to be announced later this summer. In the meantime, zoo officials and marine mammal specialists are focusing on round-the-clock care to ensure that both Allie and her calf thrive in the weeks ahead.

The birth is not only a joyful occasion for Brookfield Zoo and its visitors but also a significant contribution to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan (SSP) for bottlenose dolphins. With controlled breeding programs in place, births like this play a vital role in preserving healthy, genetically diverse dolphin populations in accredited facilities.

As zoo-goers and marine life fans wait for the calf’s eventual public debut, the Brookfield Zoo team continues to celebrate what is, for them, one of the most exciting and rewarding outcomes of their marine mammal care program—a healthy calf, a strong bond with its mother, and a community of dolphins working together to nurture the next generation.

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