UAE | Environment
First baby dolphin born at special pool in Atlantis
baby dolphin was born at a special maternity pool at Dolphin Bay in Atlantis, The Palm Resort, late last month, and the mother, Butters, and its calf have spent their first days bonding, according to a statement.
- Staff Report
- Published: 16:03 September 30, 2008
- Image Credit: Supplied Picture
- The baby dolphin is being monitored 24 hours a day by mammal specialists to ensure it is healthy and developing on schedule.
Dubai: A baby dolphin was born at a special maternity pool at Dolphin Bay in Atlantis, The Palm Resort, late last month, and the mother, Butters, and its calf have spent their first days bonding, according to a statement.
"The calf is being monitored 24 hours a day by mammal specialists to ensure it is healthy and developing on schedule," said Frank Murru, Chief Marine Officer, Kerzner International. "This is the first birth for our Dolphin Bay family, a true testament to the acclimation of these incredible animals."
Dolphin Bay will also serve as the first marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation centre in Dubai. It will be the only centre for stranded animals in the Arabian Gulf. Every year, many injured marine mammals are stranded and need assistance. With Kerzner's marine life expertise and new facilities some of these animals can be rescued, rehabilitated and returned to the wild.
The Centre will also provide a broad range of educational opportunities including graduate and undergraduate programming, currently being developed in conjunction with universities and local institutions.
Dolphin Bay is a 4.5 hectare environment with three interaction lagoons. The habitat provides the dolphins with seven interconnected resident pools, sheltering from inclement weather and 26 million litres of seawater, which exceeds all marine mammal regulations in the UAE.
Man-made habitat
"We are proud to say our facility is one of the largest man-made coastal dolphin habitats in the world" said Al Kordowski Vice President of Dolphin Bay.
The residents of Dolphin Bay are all Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins, who breathe air out of a blowhole located on the top of their head.
The facts: Newborns examined
The average gestation period for a Bottlenose Dolphins is 10 to 12 months.
At the end of this period, they give birth to live young, called calves. The calf, born with sparse hair on its snout, is a mammal and will nurse from its mother for 12 to 18 months and begin to eat fish at 4 to 5 months of age. At birth, the average Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin is 70cm long.
- Staff Report
More from UAE Environment
More from UAE
Latest news
- Youngsters dance and raise cash for charity
- Dubai departments upgrade services
- Get yourself a free test for diabetes
- Ensuring a safety net for intellectual property
- Reader's issue addressed
- 5,552 illegals held in Dubai this year
- Man cleared because he took drugs in France
- Man charged with trafficking women
- Auditors to probe Mizin graft case
- Breaking down cultural barriers with photographs
- Abu Dhabi Crown Prince visits Islamic centre
- Police's secret source scheme reaps rewards
- Transfusion centre launches new toll free number
- Mirror, mirror show me the way
- Smart e-Gate system launched
Community Reports
-
Mirror, mirror show me the way
Driver on Salam Street had so many boxes and fruits piled into car, he would not be able to view rear or right side mirrors
-
Parents should be more vigilant
Reader's picture highlights risk of negligence by caretakers
-
Warming up to ‘Mobilise the Earth' theme
Dubai school dedicates a whole week to celebrating Earth Day with can-collection drives, sapling plantation and painting competition among others
-
Drivers using mobiles put others' lives at risk
Speeding is dangerous for the driver and other motorists
