Learning from nature: bottlenose dolphin care and husbandry

Area of Science:

• Marine Biology
• Animal Behavior
• Conservation Science

Background:

• The Chicago Zoological Society has studied Sarasota Bay's bottlenose dolphins since 1970.
• This research focuses on a multi-generational population of approximately 160 individuals.
• The study spans five generations and includes dolphins up to 59 years old.

Purpose of the Study:

• To inform collection managers at Brookfield Zoo and partner institutions.
• To optimize breeding success in managed care settings.
• To guide calf-rearing and social development strategies.

Main Methods:

• Observational and capture-release research.
• Individual identification and long-term monitoring.
• Genetic paternity testing and social structure analysis.
• Health assessments including blood, milk, and urine analysis, morphometrics, and body condition scoring.

Main Results:

• Established benchmarks for wild dolphin health parameters (blood, milk, urine, morphometrics, body condition).
• Defined target weights, blubber thickness, and caloric intake for various age and sex classes.
• Provided insights into wild dolphin reproductive histories and calf survivorship.
• Documented individual variability in growth and development throughout ontogeny.

Conclusions:

• Long-term individual monitoring is key to understanding dolphin life history and variability.
• Wild dolphin data provides essential guidance for managing captive populations.
• This research supports informed decision-making for breeding, health, and welfare in zoological settings.