Shedd Aquarium Dolphin, Piquet, Pregnant and Due This Summer
CHICAGO – Shedd Aquarium announced in a press release today that Piquet, one of its Pacific white-sided dolphins, is pregnant.
With "fewer than 20 Pacific white-sided dolphins in accredited North American zoological facilities," Shedd reports that Piquet's pregnancy "is significant for the population as well as to the scientific and marine mammal communities dedicated to better understanding the reproductive and neonatal biology and behaviors about the rarely studied species."
This is the second pregnancy for Piquet, who is 27 years old. Shedd staff state that she is healthy and the pregnancy is progressing well. Piquet's first calf, Sagu, is almost three years old and currently resides at the aquarium. The gestation period for a white-sided dolphin is known to be approximately 12 months. According to Shedd, Piquet's new calf will arrive this summer.
"As with any pregnancy, there is a lot of excitement around her positive progress and eager anticipation to welcome a new baby into the Shedd family," said Lisa Takaki, senior director of marine mammals for Shedd Aquarium.
Guests can continue to see Piquet in daily programs at the Abbott Oceanarium.