Coral World announces Ping is pregnant

Coral World Ocean Park announced on Mother’s Day that one of their female Atlantic bottlenose dolphins is pregnant and due to deliver the calf in less than three months.

Affectionately named Ping, the 23-year-old dolphin had never felt an ocean current, experienced waves, or been surrounded by other sea life until she was transported to Coral World Ocean Park’s Dolphin Sanctuary which provided a two-acre sea refuge for her and her three other rescued companions, according to the park’s Assistant Curator of Marine Mammals and Birds Kristine Tartaglio.

The four dolphins are from Dolphinaris Arizona, which was forced to permanently close after losing four dolphins within two years.

Ping’s calf will be welcomed into a better world under the supervision and care of the Coral World Ocean Park marine team.

“Reproduction is a biologically strenuous experience for all animals and will only take place successfully when all basic needs are being met. We are thrilled to see this natural indicator that our dolphin group is thriving, happy and healthy,” Tartaglio said.

Female Atlantic bottlenose dolphins can become pregnant for the first time between the ages of five to 13-years-old Tartaglio said and once pregnant the fetus is closely monitored in addition to the regular screenings conducted on all the dolphins.