A baby bottlenose dolphin was born at Adventure World in Shirahama, Wakayama, on June 22, 2026 (Monday) at 3:36 PM. The newborn is currently on public display at the Dolphin Touch Pool (Enjoy Dome side), open for viewing all day.
The baby can be seen following its mother closely through the water, nursing while staying by her side — a heartwarming scene that can only be witnessed in the very earliest days of a newborn's life. Both mother and calf are reported to be in stable condition.
Baby Bottlenose Dolphin — Birth Details
- Birth date: June 22, 2026 (Monday), 3:36 PM
- Sex: Unknown
- Estimated length: Approximately 120 cm
- Estimated weight: Approximately 20 kg
- Father: Unknown (multiple candidates; paternity to be confirmed through testing after the calf grows)
- Mother: Arrived January 2010 (estimated 19 years old; wild-caught individual)
Viewing location: Dolphin Touch Pool (Enjoy Dome side)
Viewing hours: All day
Note: Public viewing may be changed or suspended depending on weather conditions or the animals' health. The calf's behavior may also make viewing difficult at times.
The mother is a performer in the marine live show "Smiles" and this is her first birth at the park. Prior to becoming pregnant, she had shown some reluctance toward husbandry training and it was at times difficult to encourage cooperative behavior from her. Pregnancy seemed to bring about a gradual change, and she became more settled during training sessions. Regular ultrasound examinations tracked the growth of the fetus. On the day of birth, signs such as a drop in body temperature and a decrease in appetite were observed, and the new life was welcomed into the world under the watchful eye of the animal care team and park veterinarians.
A Message from the Animal Care Team
Hiroto Umemura, Dolphin Trainer
Umemura has been passionate about dolphin husbandry since his days in vocational school, where he focused on enrichment — creating environments where dolphins can live happily and comfortably. After joining Adventure World, he started out in the gift shop before transitioning to become a dolphin trainer at the front lines of the marine live shows.
His greatest strength is the trust he builds with the dolphins in his care. Animals that were once hesitant about blood draws or health checks are now able to calmly offer their bodies for these procedures thanks to the patient, careful husbandry training he provides.
"Since this was the mother's first birth, I was genuinely worried about whether she would be able to raise her calf and nurse it properly. After the birth, I was relieved and overjoyed to see her adapting to the calf's pace, staying close and nursing. The sight of the baby working hard to swim alongside its mother while breathing and nursing is just adorable. Please come and see it for yourself!
By the way, Misaki, the bottlenose dolphin born on November 6 last year, is growing up healthy and strong. She is eating plenty of small fish, and shows a lot of curiosity toward the fish her mother eats. She also loves being touched, and will swim right up to trainers as if to say, 'Pet me!'"
Adventure World's Commitment to Cetacean Conservation
Adventure World established a Cetacean Breeding Project team in December 2016, aimed at improving breeding technology for cetaceans — a group with notoriously low birth and rearing success rates due to issues such as stillbirths and nursing difficulties.
This latest birth follows that of a Pacific white-sided dolphin (カマイルカ) in July 2025 and a bottlenose dolphin in November 2025, making it the third new life at the park in less than a year, and the second consecutive year of successful cetacean breeding. The accumulated data and ongoing breeding successes represent a significant contribution to the future of marine animal conservation in Japan.
Adventure World Cetacean Breeding Record
| Species | Years | Births | Calves Raised |
|---|---|---|---|
| False Killer Whale (オキゴンドウ) | 1981–2022 | 10 | 1 |
| Bottlenose Dolphin | 1984–2026 | 71 (incl. this birth) | 23 |
| Pacific White-Sided Dolphin (カマイルカ) | 1981–2025 | 15 | 3 |
| Risso's Dolphin (ハナゴンドウ) | 2012–2019 | 6 | 0 |
Note: The Pacific white-sided dolphin born in 1988 received the Japan Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA) Breeding Award for being the first successful breeding of its kind at a JAZA member facility in Japan.
About the Bottlenose Dolphin
- Classification: Order Cetacea, Family Delphinidae
- Scientific name: Tursiops truncatus
- English name: Bottlenose Dolphin
- Habitat: Found in temperate to subtropical waters worldwide
- Diet: At Adventure World, primarily fed mackerel
- Reproduction: Gestation is approximately 12 months; typically one calf per birth. Females reach sexual maturity at 5–12 years, males at 10–12 years.
- Lifespan: Approximately 50 years
- Characteristics: Generally gray in color, darker on the upper body and lighter, almost white on the underside. Body length: 250–380 cm; body weight: 200–400 kg
