“This is only the first step in the nursing process,” he added. “It’s critical to see consistent nursing and weight gain, but this is a major breakthrough.”

Since she was 12 hours old, the calf had been fed her mom’s milk every two hours by the trainers. This precautionary measure guaranteed that she got a good dose of nutrients plus natural antibodies to jump-start her immune system during the critical first days. The trainers are still supplementing the calf’s diet with extra feedings.

The feeding sessions also gave Shedd’s veterinarians a chance to give the calf an exam. That’s how they confirmed her gender. “Usually we don’t know the gender for several weeks, or sometimes months, until we do a routine examination after the birth,” said Dr. Caryn Poll, Shedd’s chief veterinarian. She explained that it’s difficult to identify gender in dolphin calves because, like most marine mammals, they don’t have external sexual characteristics. (That’s one of the reasons it can take a calf a while to find its mother’s recessed mammary glands.) During the exam, the calf was also measured (3 feet) and weighed (22 pounds).

Right now the calf’s life revolves around Mom as she bonds, nurses and swims in Secluded Bay. (She also sleeps and poops, but we’ll save that exposition for another blog.) It’s important that Tique and her calf have a truly secluded environment in which the calf can nurse and grow, so the pair will remain off exhibit for a few more weeks. While you won’t be able to see them just yet, starting this Saturday at 9 a.m., you’ll once again be able to visit a sea lion on the coastal walkway around Secluded Bay and enjoy the Icy North section of Polar Play Zone in the lower level of the Abbott Oceanarium.

Check back for more updates on Tique’s calf here, on our Facebook page and at the Shedd Twitter account.

Posted by Karen Furnweger, web editor