Ninth Baby Dolphin of Fall Arrives

It's been quite an interesting Fall for the team on board the Dolphin Explorer! They were expecting to see eight to 10 new dolphin calves from September through November and a not-so-surprising calf was born in early December. Mom’s name is Kaya and this birth was expected by the crew late in the year. I’ll explain in just a moment.

Mom Kaya comes from quite a large family. Her mom, Halfway, has given birth to seven offspring and now has four grandbabies. Kaya, born in 2010, just gave birth on December 10th or 11th. This is her third offspring with the first being Ariel that was born in 2018. This young male is thriving in our area waters. Kaya then gave birth in September 2022 to offspring Venture.

There are predators in the water, such as Bull Sharks and Hammerheads that will attack our very young dolphins and, unfortunately, Venture was only seen for about one month.

Almost immediately after Kaya lost Venture, she was followed by two of our big males. This is typical when a mom loses a calf; they will want to mate within a few months to produce a new baby. Such was the case with Kaya.

Our research in the past has shown a pattern of moms losing calves, getting pregnant within two months and giving birth 12 months later. The gestation period (pregnancy period) for a dolphin is 12 months.

After Kaya lost her baby Venture in October 2022 the team estimated that she would be pregnant by December 2022 and give birth December 2023. Sure enough, on December 10th or 11th, that calf was born.

The first sighting of a new baby is always exciting for the team, but especially so for the guests on our excursions because they get to name that baby. On December 11th there was a couple on board the Dolphin Explorer who were regulars. They’ve come out with us on December 11th for 13 straight years. Their son, an avid nature lover, passed away on this date and they would join us every year in honor of their boy. To have a first sighting of a newborn dolphin on this date, in a month when few babies are born, seemed more than a coincidence. Everyone on the boat agreed that this calf should be named after the couple’s son. That being said, welcome to the world, PETER!

Peter will have lots of support from family during the younger years. Kaya’s sister, Skipper, is raising a two-year-old named Fergie and those two little ones will bond over the next few years. Kaya’s older son, Ariel, will surely be around. Peter’s uncles, Wyatt and Cubbie, are also residents and, especially Cubbie, will be playmates for Peter.

In addition, there are more than a dozen moms with calves that are about two years old or younger out here. Kaya is a very social dolphin and will, for sure, be showing off her newborn to the other moms and calves.

“Tis the season for happy stories like this. Not just seeing Kaya have a new calf, but to have a first sighting in December, on a day when a couple comes on our tour to honor their son and have that new calf carry his name. This seems a bit more than coincidence!

On behalf of the entire Staff and Crew on board the Dolphin Explorer, we wish you a Merry Christmas and the Happiest New Year ever! May all of your dreams be dolphin dreams! God Bless!