Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium (located in Motobu Town, Kunigami District, Okinawa Prefecture; Director: Keiichi Sato) has welcomed a new addition to its pod, with a baby bottlenose dolphin born on July 9, 2026.
The mother, a bottlenose dolphin named Marl, was confirmed pregnant in October 2025. Aquarium staff continued monitoring the health of mother and calf through ultrasound scans and blood tests, and the birth took place safely at 9:22 PM on July 9, 2026. This is Marl's second calf, following the birth of her first, Haim, in 2022.
The New Bottlenose Dolphin Calf
- Birth date: July 9, 2026 (Thursday), 9:22 PM
- Species: Bottlenose dolphin
- Sex: Female
About a month after the birth, both mother and calf have stabilized, and the aquarium has begun public viewing starting today, August 10 (Monday). Visitors can observe the pair through the underwater observation window in the pool wall behind the Okichan Theater.
Note: Viewing hours and methods may be changed depending on the condition of the mother and calf. Thank you for your understanding.
Updates on the calf's growth will also be shared on the official YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook accounts of Ocean Expo Park and Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.
About Bottlenose Dolphins
Bottlenose dolphins are found widely across warm waters around the world and are kept at many aquariums. Aquariums across Japan collaborate with one another on a variety of initiatives related to the species' breeding and conservation.
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium plans to record and analyze the findings from this birth to contribute to academic research, while also applying the knowledge to husbandry practices that prioritize the wellbeing of mother and calf. The aquarium says it will continue to contribute to the understanding and conservation of dolphins through its ongoing animal care and research.
