National Aquarium Has Two New Dolphin Calves

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- For the first time, we're getting a glimpse of the new baby dolphins at the National Aquarium.

Mary Bubala reports the calves are only a few weeks old, so the splashing has been toned down until they get comfortable.

At just three and a half feet, they are precious and, for now, unnamed.  They're identified with their mothers' names, Spirit's calf and Maya's calf. 

"We love that process of starting to name them.  We've had some, many ways in the past that we've come up with names," said Allison Ginsburg, National Aquarium.

Naming the new baby dolphins will happen in the next few months, but for now, the National Aquarium has revamped its dolphin show to help the calves adjust.  Approximately 33 percent of calves do not survive their first year and last March, a calf just 11 days old died from an infection.

So the show is toned down, the crowd is smaller and the experience called the "Dolphin Access Package" is smaller.

"Really, what we are trying to do is allow the mothers and calves to bond and when there is a lot of noise and commotions, sometimes that can startle the calves, so giving them the opportunity of a quiet environment really allows them to become aware of their environment," Ginsburg said.

The crowd still gets to see the dolphins up close, they get to interact with them and, yes, get wet.

"I liked how they showed us how the calves are being born underwater," said Tristan Dolence.

"I think the bestest part of all was getting wet," said Zander Dolence.

When the calves get to be about six months old, they will join the rest of the dolphins and the regular show will go on.