How does Sea World manage the dolphin breeding program?
All the dolphins at Sea World are DNA tested to determine blood lines and to ensure that these blood lines are not cross bred. Dolphins reach sexual maturity around the age of 6, with males not reaching sexual maturity until about 8. Females at the age of 12 have a higher percentage of surviving calves, therefore we have no females younger than 12 in our breeding program. Males have their testosterone levels checked to ascertain their sexual peak and then they are placed with an appropriate female. Once the female is pregnant the male dolphin is removed from that pool. Breeding females have their blood tested every two weeks. Pregnant females then have an ultrasound after 6 months to monitor her calf. When calves are born they weigh approximately 15kgs and are 1 metre long. They will stay with their mother and suckle milk until they are between 2 and 3 years of age. Currently at Sea World we have 3 calves of varying ages and in the future we will look at artificial insemination as a wa
