‘Deeply saddened': 4-day-old bottlenose dolphin calf at Brookfield Zoo abruptly dies
BROOKFIELD, Ill. (WGN) — A bottlenose dolphin calf born at the Brookfield Zoo last week has abruptly died, officials confirmed Thursday.
According to zoo officials, the male calf was born early Saturday morning and appeared healthy, but died abruptly on Wednesday evening.
'We know our guests and supporters share this sadness with us,' Dr. Rita Stacey, Brookfield Zoo Chicago senior vice president of programs and impact, said. 'This calf's birth brought hope and joy, and his sudden loss reminds us of the delicate balance of life.'
Lincoln Park Zoo introduces new river otter 'Tucker'
Zoo officials said the calf, who was under continual 24-hour, minute-to-minute observation by the Zoo's animal care and veterinarian teams, had been exhibiting positive and progressive indicators of development up until his death.
The calf had been meeting all milestones, including healthy levels of nursing and other activities, and his mother, a 38-year-old bottlenose dolphin named Allie, was also providing appropriate maternal care, Dr. Stacey said.
How can you enjoy Chicago on a budget this summer?
But things rapidly changed on Wednesday evening when staff members witnessed a rapid, unexpected change in the calf's behavior. Officials said within minutes of noticing the change, the calf died.
While the cause of death is unknown, zoo officials said a dolphin calf's first year of life is full of milestones that must be reached and even slight developmental challenges can become critical in a short time.
In the wild, one in five calves born to first-time mothers do not survive their first year.
Hong Kong's baby pandas finally have names. Meet Jia Jia and De De
'The first few days after birth are a vulnerable, critical timeframe for dolphin calves,' Dr. Rita Stacey said. 'This is a devastating loss for our Zoo community, especially the animal care and veterinary teams who dedicate their lives to the well-being of animals in our care. They provided exceptional, around-the-clock care to Allie and her calf. While the calf was progressing well, dolphin neonates face immense biological challenges. We are deeply saddened by his sudden passing.'
The calf's mother, as well as the rest of the dolphin group, are now being closely monitored by animal care and veterinary staff.
Officials said while the loss of the calf is devastating, dolphin births, which are rarely observed in the wild, contribute to the zoo's scientific understanding of dolphin neonatology and care.
Endangered Amur tiger Malena euthanized at Brookfield Zoo Chicago
'Brookfield Zoo Chicago is one of only a few institutions globally with the expertise, resources and scientific partnerships capable of contributing to meaningful advances in marine mammal care and conservation,' a zoo official said in a release on Thursday morning.
The zoo is now awaiting a complete necropsy to determine the calf's cause of death.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Yahoo
Benefits of Vitamin D fighting breast cancer — and more
For Thursday, June 12, WGN's Dina Bair has the latest on new medical information, including: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch An added bonus from taking Vitamin D? It could help fight cancer Vitamin D increases the likelihood that breast cancer treatment will work. Researchers at São Paulo State University studied breast cancer patients older than 45. They discovered, those who took Vitamin D nearly doubled their treatment response rate. Vitamin D supplements increase the efficacy of chemotherapy treatment. Doctors say it's an easy and accessible way to boost breast cancer treatment. Have faith in better health. A new study reveals that trust in individuals and institutions enhances overall well-being. People who are trusting have higher levels of well-being and quality of life. And that can impact longevity. The American Psychological Association reports that the cycle continues, since feeling healthy also makes people more trusting. People who trust others are happier and satisfied across all ages than those who are skeptical and reluctant to trust. Doctors may be able to check your breath for measures of health just as easily as they check your blood pressure. The journal Cell Press reports that every person has a breathing fingerprint. Scientists say they can identify people based solely on their one-of-a-kind breathing pattern with 96.8% accuracy. The nasal respiratory score can also give doctors insights into physical and mental health. Researchers measured airflow from each nostril for 24 hours, first revealing the unique breaths. They followed study participants for years. They say their breathing offered a window into the brain and lung function, exercise and physical health, their sleep patterns, depression levels, and anxiety. Sign up for our Medical Watch newsletter. This daily update includes important information from WGN's Dina Bair and the Med Watch team, including, the latest updates from health organizations, in-depth reporting on advancements in medical technology and treatments, as well as personal features related to people in the medical field. Sign up here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
‘Deeply saddened': 4-day-old bottlenose dolphin calf at Brookfield Zoo abruptly dies
BROOKFIELD, Ill. (WGN) — A bottlenose dolphin calf born at the Brookfield Zoo last week has abruptly died, officials confirmed Thursday. According to zoo officials, the male calf was born early Saturday morning and appeared healthy, but died abruptly on Wednesday evening. 'We know our guests and supporters share this sadness with us,' Dr. Rita Stacey, Brookfield Zoo Chicago senior vice president of programs and impact, said. 'This calf's birth brought hope and joy, and his sudden loss reminds us of the delicate balance of life.' Lincoln Park Zoo introduces new river otter 'Tucker' Zoo officials said the calf, who was under continual 24-hour, minute-to-minute observation by the Zoo's animal care and veterinarian teams, had been exhibiting positive and progressive indicators of development up until his death. The calf had been meeting all milestones, including healthy levels of nursing and other activities, and his mother, a 38-year-old bottlenose dolphin named Allie, was also providing appropriate maternal care, Dr. Stacey said. How can you enjoy Chicago on a budget this summer? But things rapidly changed on Wednesday evening when staff members witnessed a rapid, unexpected change in the calf's behavior. Officials said within minutes of noticing the change, the calf died. While the cause of death is unknown, zoo officials said a dolphin calf's first year of life is full of milestones that must be reached and even slight developmental challenges can become critical in a short time. In the wild, one in five calves born to first-time mothers do not survive their first year. Hong Kong's baby pandas finally have names. Meet Jia Jia and De De 'The first few days after birth are a vulnerable, critical timeframe for dolphin calves,' Dr. Rita Stacey said. 'This is a devastating loss for our Zoo community, especially the animal care and veterinary teams who dedicate their lives to the well-being of animals in our care. They provided exceptional, around-the-clock care to Allie and her calf. While the calf was progressing well, dolphin neonates face immense biological challenges. We are deeply saddened by his sudden passing.' The calf's mother, as well as the rest of the dolphin group, are now being closely monitored by animal care and veterinary staff. Officials said while the loss of the calf is devastating, dolphin births, which are rarely observed in the wild, contribute to the zoo's scientific understanding of dolphin neonatology and care. Endangered Amur tiger Malena euthanized at Brookfield Zoo Chicago 'Brookfield Zoo Chicago is one of only a few institutions globally with the expertise, resources and scientific partnerships capable of contributing to meaningful advances in marine mammal care and conservation,' a zoo official said in a release on Thursday morning. The zoo is now awaiting a complete necropsy to determine the calf's cause of death. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
a day ago
- CBS News
Bottlenose dolphin calf born at Brookfield Zoo Chicago dies days after birth, zoo says
The Brookfield Zoo Chicago's newly born bottlenose dolphin, the first to be born there since 2014, has died, the zoo announced on Thursday. The dolphin was born last Saturday morning to mother Allie, 38, who gave birth to the calf just before 12:30 a.m. A video captured the moment the male calf was born and took its first breath of air while being accompanied by its mother, and experienced dolphin mother, Tapeko. The zoo said the calf had appeared healthy and was "exhibiting positive, progressive indicators of development" until his sudden passing Wednesday evening, Dr. Rita Stacey, Brookfield Zoo Chicago's senior vice president of programs and impact, said it's a devastating loss for our zoo community. "We know our guests and supporters share this sadness with us," she said. "This calf's birth brought hope and joy, and his sudden loss reminds us of the delicate balance of life." Veterinarians at the zoo estimated the calf's weight to be between 33 and 37 pounds and 115-120 centimeters long. The zoo said it is awaiting complete necropsy, or animal autopsy, results to determine the cause of death.
