MUSEUM CAMPUS — One of Shedd Aquarium's dolphins gave birth to a calf Monday.
The 3-foot-long, 28-pound dolphin calf, whose name and gender have not been determined, was born healthy at 12:10 a.m. Monday, Shedd said.
It's baby No. 2 for Piquet, a 27-year-old white-sided dolphin who gave birth to a male, Sagu, in 2012. Both dolphins were sired by Lii, a "stud" white-sided dolphin who lives at Miami Seaquarium.
WATCH: Piquet gives birth to dolphin calf
Shedd said Monday the birth is significant for the white-sided dolphin population, of which fewer than 20 live in North American aquatic facilities. The calf and Piquet will remain under 24-hour observation by Shedd officials for the next several months, the aquarium said.
“We are thrilled about the birth. However, a calf must reach several milestones in its first days and months, such as continuing to bond with its mother, learning to nurse, and later, learning to feed independently,” said Tim Binder, executive vice president of animal care for Shedd Aquarium.
Binder told DNAinfo Chicago in February that little is known about white-sided dolphins, with facts such as life expectancy still up in the air. The most researched dolphin species, Bottlenoses, can give birth in their 40s.
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