Shedd Aquarium Announces Pregnancy of Two Pacific White-Sided Dolphins Through Artificial Insemination

3/11/2003

From: Roger Germann of the Shedd Aquarium, 312-692-3265, e-mail: rgermann@sheddaquarium.org

CHICAGO, March 11 -- Two of Shedd Aquarium's Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) are pregnant, a successful result of an artificial insemination procedure that was a collaborative effort between Shedd, the National Zoo's Conservation and Research Center and SeaWorld, which pioneered this procedure in cetaceans, aquarium officials announced today.

"This is one of the first successful artificial insemination procedures in a Pacific white-sided dolphin and the very first for Shedd Aquarium," said Ken Ramirez, director of marine mammals for Shedd.

Artificial insemination, or AI, is a technology that still is new in marine mammals, though it has been successful in many terrestrial animals. In the last five years, SeaWorld developed and advanced the AI procedure in dolphins and whales. On its most basic level, it involves collecting semen from a male and manually depositing the semen into the female's reproductive track where fertilization occurs. The insemination process took advantage of Shedd's strong animal training program in preparation for this procedure. This, along with urinary endocrine analysis and ultrasound imaging, was crucial in determining when the female dolphins were ovulating.

"Artificial insemination offers promise in the conservation and study of endangered species," SeaWorld's Dr. Todd R. Robeck said. "Through a successful artificial insemination program, zoos and aquariums can continue to gain important knowledge about reproduction of dolphins, while enhancing breeding programs."

Robeck, D.V.M., Ph.D., along with other SeaWorld animal-care, training and veterinary staff, achieved a true medical milestone in February 2001: A killer whale at SeaWorld in San Diego became pregnant through artificial insemination, which was the first-ever use of this technique in marine mammals. This successful birth was the result of 15 years of groundbreaking research.

Shedd Aquarium, in partnership with SeaWorld, used this new technique to artificially inseminate two of its female dolphins -- Kri (CREE) and Tique (TEE-kay). SeaWorld imported the semen, collected from a male dolphin in an international aquarium, used to impregnate them.

Kri -- an 18-year-old, 210-pound dolphin -- is pregnant for the first time, which means she faces increased risks as a first-time mother. Tique -- an 18-year-old, 200-pound dolphin -- gave birth to a stillborn calf in 1995 Pacific white-sided dolphin pregnancies last approximately 12 months. Shedd anticipates the birth of these two calves in mid-October, although the delivery could occur earlier or later.

"We're especially excited about this pregnancy because there are so few Pacific white-sided dolphins in zoos and aquariums," added Ramirez. "There are fewer than 20 in American facilities, only two of which are male. This successful AI procedure represents one of the first pregnancies on any marine mammal using semen imported from another country, thus increasing genetic diversity of Pacific-white sided dolphin populations in U.S. zoos and aquariums."