SAN ANTONIO, Tx., July 22, 2024 – SeaWorld San Antonio is experiencing a remarkable “baby boom” this summer, with the birth of a second Pacific white-sided dolphin, following the recent births of a beluga whale and another Pacific white-sided dolphin.

For the third time in two weeks, the marine life park welcomed a new member to its whale and dolphin family. The latest addition, a female Pacific white-sided dolphin calf, was born under the attentive care of animal specialists and the park’s veterinary team. Upon birth, the calf instinctively swam to the surface for its first breath and began swimming alongside its mother.

“Our team has been waiting on this moment for months and it’s finally here,” said Katie Kolodziej, Curator of Zoological Operations at SeaWorld San Antonio. “With three new babies now in our habitat, the team is looking forward to providing the best possible care and enrichment for the calves and their mothers, as well as watching them grow and become a part of our existing pod.”

The new mother, 17-year-old Ohana, gave birth to the female calf, who is estimated to be 19 inches long and weigh 21 pounds. Animal care specialists had been monitoring Ohana around the clock, observing changes in her eating and behavioral patterns, temperature fluctuations, and the emergence of tail flukes as signs of impending birth. These round-the-clock observations will continue for at least a month to ensure the well-being of the calves, with data being collected to share with other zoological facilities.

Guests visiting SeaWorld San Antonio can catch glimpses of the new arrivals throughout the day and hear updates about their progress during special educational chats provided by the zoological staff. The calves have access to each pool in their two-million-gallon facility, including the main presentation pool.

In late June, the same habitat celebrated the birth of a beluga whale calf and another Pacific white-sided dolphin calf within 48 hours of each other. In the two weeks since, these calves have been introduced to each other and to other members of the pod, which now includes 10 beluga whales and nine dolphins. The SeaWorld zoological team is encouraged that these births signify a healthy marine environment and successful species management.

The “baby boom” at the marine park began earlier this summer with the arrival of a harbor seal, a California sea lion, and an endangered radiated tortoise. All newborns are showing signs of good health, and SeaWorld officials are cautiously optimistic that the babies and mothers will continue to thrive and integrate well into their respective communities.