The first dolphin has been born in captivity at the Cayo Guillermo dolphinarium since its establishment in 2012

The Cayo Guillermo Dolphinarium, located in the Jardines del Rey tourist resort, celebrated a historic event on December 16, 12 years after its founding: the birth of the first dolphin in captivity.

The official broadcaster Radio Surco presented this achievement as one of the most significant milestones for the institution in its efforts to conserve marine life in Cuba.

Wendy, the mother, is a female approximately 43 years old, donated in 2013 by the dolphinarium in Cienfuegos, and since then, she has become a key element of the facility.

The broadcaster highlighted that Wendy has had four pregnancies, with this being the second successful one, while her first offspring, at 14 years old, participates in shows at the dolphinarium in Cienfuegos.

The gestation process was confirmed through an ultrasound last September, and the birth occurred naturally, without the assistance of specialists.

Unlike typical births in nature, where females are surrounded by other female dolphins for protection, Wendy faced childbirth alone.

Radio Surco emphasized that, three days prior to the birth, the cetacean began to show the first symptoms, and since then, it has taken on a protective mothering role, keeping the newborn away from caregivers and any potential threats in its environment.

Wendy's overprotection has prevented the specialists at the dolphinarium from determining the sex of the new member, who is now the center of attention at the facility.

"The newborn dolphin is in perfect health and is under the attentive care of its trainers and specialized staff," the cited broadcaster stated.

This event not only represents a breakthrough in the breeding of dolphins in captivity but also signifies an important step towards the conservation of the species in the country.

However, in the Cuban context, these advancements may be constrained by a shortage of material and technological resources, which poses additional challenges for ensuring the success and sustainability of these programs.

In 2018, Wendy, part of the group of dolphins that was evacuated by helicopter during Hurricane Irma's passage through Cuba, became pregnant again after having lost three calves, the last one due to the stress caused by the relocation resulting from the weather event.

According to a report by Televisión Avileña, the trainers at the dolphinarium in Cayo Guillermo focused their efforts on achieving the first successful pregnancy of Wendy, the only female dolphin at the facility.

What is a natural process in the wild becomes a challenge in captivity, as demonstrated by Wendy, whose three previous pregnancies were interrupted by factors such as Hurricane Irma and her relocation to Cienfuegos.

This birth, although it ultimately did not reach a successful conclusion, represented a long-awaited achievement for the team at the dolphinarium and a significant advancement in the controlled breeding of dolphins in Cuba.

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