Science & Nature
Brookfield Zoo Expecting First Dolphin Birth in a Decade, Calf Due in June
Allie, one of the bottlenose dolphins at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, is expecting a calf in late spring/early summer. (Courtesy Brookfield Zoo Chicago)
Brookfield Zoo is ringing in 2025 with some exciting news: Allie, one of the zoo’s bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), is expecting a calf in late spring/early summer.
It will be the first bottlenose born at Brookfield since 2014.
At 37 years old, Allie is already an experienced five-time mom. The zoo’s staff estimates her due date as early June, but will begin monitoring her closely in May for signs of an imminent birth. Bottlenose pregnancies typically last 12 months.
Veterinarians and members of the animal care team have already performed routine ultrasound exams and blood tests on Allie to check her health and the calf’s.
“This pregnancy is more than a joyous event for the zoo — every dolphin pregnancy is an opportunity for us to advance our scientific knowledge and understanding of the biology and life sciences of marine mammals,” said Mike Adkesson, Brookfield Zoo Chicago president and CEO, in a statement.
Allie receives an ultrasound from Dr. Jen Langan. (Courtesy Brookfield Zoo Chicago)
The ability of Brookfield staff to observe the full gamut of bottlenose behavior, from mating to birth, will help provide insights into challenges dolphin mothers and calves face, which will in turn lead to better strategies to protect them in the wild, according to zoo officials.
“It also marks an important opportunity to inspire curiosity and conservation mindedness among our guests and future generations as they witness the zoo’s first dolphin pregnancy in a decade,” Adkesson added.
Brookfield’s Sarasota Dolphin Research Program launched in 1970 and has been monitoring dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico ever since, with three generations of researchers having documented six generations of bottlenose in Sarasota Bay, Florida.
In fact, the zoo’s Seven Seas dolphin habitat was recently renovated to better mimic the conditions in the bay. The $10 million makeover was revealed in 2024, with the dolphins returning to Brookfield after a 15-month stay in Minnesota during construction.
Visitors to Brookfield Zoo can identify Allie by distinctive features that include faint white lines along the sides of her head and chest.
Admission will be free on Martin Luther King Day, and is also free on Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays through Feb. 27. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Contact Patty Wetli: @pattywetli | (773) 509-5623 | [email protected]