Tangalooma dolphin’s new joy after sadness

Tangalooma dolphin’s new joy after sadness

Tangalooma wild dolphin Silhouette has given birth to a healthy calf just one year after tragically losing her first baby for reason unknown.

The 10-year old new mum last Friday night appeared in rough water with her new offspring in tow.

Tangalooma ranger Susan Hassard said she was over the moon about the birth and already noticing how protective Silhouette was over her little one.

“Silhouette is very emotionally connected and displaying strong protective instincts, keeping her baby well back from the other dolphins and out of harm’s way,” Mrs Hassard said.

“We are also delighted because the calf is the first fourth-generation dolphin to be introduced into the Tangalooma wild dolphin family.”

Silhouette was born in 2004 to Shadow, who was the offspring of Beauty – the original Tangalooma dolphin that started the resort’s successful wild dolphin provisional feeding program in 1992.

“This calf comes from wonderful ancestry and is showing all the signs of being a little fighter,” Mrs Hassard said.

“The north-westerlies were blowing hard at the end of last week and the water was very choppy.

“The baby needed all its strength to swim through those rough seas and keep up with its mother – it certainly would have been a hard start to life.”

As its newest member, the baby now joins the family of 10 other wild dolphins that comes to shore each night to be fed by guests of Tangalooma Island Resort.