ZooBorns

Young Turtles, the Size of a Dinner Plate

On July 1st the Monterey Bay Aquarium placed five lively juvenile green sea turtles on exhibit as part of its “Hot Pink Flamingos: Stories of Hope in a Changing Sea” special exhibition. The young sea turtles are just under 9 months old and each is about the size of a dinner plate. The sea turtles are featured in a gallery that shows how rising temperatures could alter the gender of an incubating clutch of sea turtle eggs, or how rising sea levels threaten sea turtles’ nesting beaches.

Photo credits: ©Monterey Bay Aquarium / Randy Wilder 

Senior Aquarist Veronica Franklin brought 10 young sea turtles to the aquarium on June 24 from SeaWorld San Diego, where they were among 82 hatchlings born October 5 to resident sea turtles in the park’s “Shipwreck Beach.” The sea turtles’ gender will remain a mystery until they mature a little more. 

The young sea turtles at the aquarium will rotate between the exhibit and behind-the-scenes holding pools. The two larger turtles they replaced, as well as some of the smaller turtles, will be part of the aquarium’s remodeled “Open Sea” galleries that open in July 2011.

There’s more information online about their background, and how Franklin and her staff care for the turtles, at www.montereybayaquarium.org/exhibitupdates.

82 Tiny Baby Sea Turtles Make Lots of Little Waves

Early this month, Sea World San Diego announced the hatching of 82 Baby Sea Turtles on the park's Shipwreck Beach. The hatchlings, born without human aid or incubation, are developing well and park officials are pleased with the progress. The babies eat a varied diet of squid, krill, shrimp, and special pellets. Adult Sea Turtles live to be well over 100 years old!

Baby Dolphin Frolicks with Mom

An Atlantic bottlenose dolphin calf, born at SeaWorld San Diego on June 10, 2009, swims alongside her 11-year-old mother, Malibu. SeaWorld used sex-selection techniques to determine the sex of the calf prior to birth, which enables them to optimally balance their ratio of males and females. 

Photos: Mike Aguilera/SeaWorld San Diego 

Fluffy Pheasant Chick

Eventually growing to a height of narly 3 ½ feet feet, this newborn Malayan Great Argus pheasant chick is only a couple of inches tall at the moment. Hatched May 13 at SeaWorld San Diego, a breeding pair of Great Argus pheasants can be seen by guests on behind-the-scenes tours at the marine-life park.

Ready for take-off!

Little feathers close-up

Although not currently endangered, the bird is considered threatened due to declining numbers in the wild.  The chick weighed only two ounces when it hatched.

Sardine Flavored Baby Food

Everyone say hello to SeaWorld San Diego's newest harbor seal pup, born just last week on April 8th. The 29 lb. male will nurse from mom for four to six weeks then begin a diet of squid, mackerel and sardines.

The pup's mom, Annie, was rescued by SeaWorld nearly thirty years ago as part of the park’s rescue and rehabilitation program. Once the pup and mom go back on exhibit, visitors can feed them small trays of fish at the Pacific Point exhibit.

Otter pups born at SeaWorld San Diego

For the first time in more than 10 years, Asian small-clawed river otters have been born at SeaWorld San Diego, making their debut on Feb. 7.

One male and one female pup are being raised in a behind-the-scenes den at Sea Lion and Otter Stadium.  The pups are in good health, and are being well taken care of by their very protective, first-time parents, Leo and Giselle. 

Penguin Chicks Look Really Soft

Sea World San Diego hatched 30 penguin chicks in 2008 adding to the over 500 hatched at the Penguin Encounter over the last two decades. Here is their most recent arrival, a baby Gentoo penguin which emerged from its shell on Dec. 1st.

Dolphin Calf Frolicks with Mom at SeaWorld San Diego

This energetic dolphin calf was born at SeaWorld San Diego on Nov. 28, 2008. Estimated to be a healthy 35 - 40 lbs. and 3 1/2 - 4 feet long, the calf is regularly nursing from her mother, Tobie, and growing steadily.

The female calf was conceived through artificial insemination with sperm that had undergone a gender-selection process. Responsibly managing captive populations is a challenging process, and the ability to choose the sex of a zoo or aquarium baby allows these organizations to maintain a healthy balance.