Pacific White-Sided Dolphins in North America (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens)

MidwestFan

MidwestFan

Well-Known Member
10+ year member
SeaWorld Texas (1.4)
Betty F
Avalon F
Hailey F
Ohana F
Bolt M

Miami Seaquarium (2.2)
Loke M
Li’I F
Catalina F
2018 Calf ? M

Shedd Aquarium (3.4)
Kri F
Piquet F
Katryl F
Munchkin F
Sagu M
Makoa M
Ipo M

Vancouver Aquarium (0.1)
Helen F

Total captive population: 17 (6.11)
 
Pacific White Sided dolphin Katryl is pregnant and due in the fall at the Shedd Aquarium. Not sure who is the sire, I do not believe Katryl has been in Miami since 2015. Possibly an AI pregnancy, as all of the males at Shedd are likely too young to sire, except possibly Sagu.
 
MidwestFan said:
Not sure who is the sire, I do not believe Katryl has been in Miami since 2015. Possibly an AI pregnancy, as all of the males at Shedd are likely too young to sire, except possibly Sagu.
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I’m fairly certain Katrl hasn’t been to Miami, but then again they never announced it when Piquet returned from Miami, they just suddenly announced she was pregnant. I checked the age of sexual maturity and I think it’s somewhat unlikely that Sagu is the sire, though not out of the question as dolphins of other species in captivity have been able to breed well before the wild average. If it is AI, I wouldn’t be surprised by a Munchkin pregnancy, soon.
 
Possibly, although successful breeding has seen an uptick in the US in the past few years, so I think the species will be around for awhile yet. Without AI (likely from Japan held males), genetic diversity may become an issue.
 
I see. It’s always possible there will be a few rescues in the future. No chance of fresh imports from Japan?
 
Cat-Man said:
Seems like this species is on its way out in the US?
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Cat-Man said:
I see. It’s always possible there will be a few rescues in the future. No chance of fresh imports from Japan?
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Not sure if the species was ever common in the US to begin with; maybe back when marine parks and aquariums holding cetaceans were more common, but even then it was primarily bottlenose. Likelihood of the current population expanding much more seems unlikely, as more US institutions are phasing cetaceans out than adding them.
 
Cat-Man said:
I see. It’s always possible there will be a few rescues in the future. No chance of fresh imports from Japan?
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SeaWorld had a permit to import one from Japan, but it expired. Not sure what the delay was/why they did not import the individual. I would say it is unlikely SeaWorld will import any anytime soon. I could see Shedd or Miami try, as they have had most of the recent success with breeding and *may* be in better financial situations as well. But overall, I would guess the probability to be quite low.
This species was more plentiful when live takes were still occurring in the 80s/90s. At some point, it will probably be depleted much like the pseudorcas.
 
MidwestFan said:
SeaWorld had a permit to import one from Japan, but it expired. Not sure what the delay was/why they did not import the individual. I would say it is unlikely SeaWorld will import any anytime soon.
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SeaWorld currently has a permit to import Helen from Vancouver Aquarium to finally get her some companions since Chester died. It hasn’t been approved yet but I’d be shocked to see it fail considering Helen’s current social situation.

For the question on how common it was to have lags in the US, Steinhart Aquarium, the US Navy, and SeaWorld San Diego and Orlando held them in the past. Stein hart dwindled to two females very rapidly, the Navy never tried to breed them, and the dolphins in San Diego and Orlando were strictly performers. Breeding only took place in San Antonio until Shedd Aquarium opened in 1992. SeaWorld’s population dwindled in the early 2000s, so most of their animals were related. Shedd Aquarium lost its last male in 1998. Miami Seaquarium began breeding in 2002 and has not been interrupted since then. But that’s why there’s only two adult males in the US, the males just passed away over time. Vancouver captures a few originally, but they relied on rescues after the 80s.
 
Will be good for Helen to have social companions again. I wonder if Helen will breed, her genetics are valuable. I don't know if Vancouver tried to breed her or not, Hanna did have two pregnancies there before her death. I would have said Helen is too old to breed before, but Shedd and Miami seem to be successful with older lags having successful pregnancies.
 
MidwestFan said:
SeaWorld had a permit to import one from Japan, but it expired. Not sure what the delay was/why they did not import the individual. I would say it is unlikely SeaWorld will import any anytime soon. I could see Shedd or Miami try, as they have had most of the recent success with breeding and *may* be in better financial situations as well. But overall, I would guess the probability to be quite low.
This species was more plentiful when live takes were still occurring in the 80s/90s. At some point, it will probably be depleted much like the pseudorcas.
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What is the status of False Killer Whales in the US at the moment?
 
Cat-Man said:
What is the status of False Killer Whales in the US at the moment?
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There are not currently any pseudorca (false killer whales) in any zoo or aquarium in North America. The last 3 were 1 each at SeaWorld Florida, 1 at Vancouver, and 1 at Hawaii. There was never a successful breeding program at any facility in North America (2 births at SeaWorld Florida in the 90s). I miss seeing this species on exhibit, but it is unlikely that this species will be exhibited in North America going forward. Most animals on exhibit in Asia are connected with drive hunts, so there would not be any import. That would leave potential rescue animals, but it is a rare live strand in North America.
 
With the Vancouver Aquarium announcing they are closing until further notice starting September 7, 2020 for a transformation, the import of Helen (0.1) from Vancouver to SWT may occur soon.
I think the lack of belugas and other cetaceans (except currently Helen), the inability to hold any other cetaceans, and COVID-19 have really impacted the Vancouver Aquarium's model and attendance.

Transformation :: Vancouver Aquarium
 
MidwestFan said:
Shedd announces birth of dolphin, Katrl (Pacific White Sided Dolphin) appears to have given birth to a healthy calf. Katrl's calf is likely the result of AI, as it does not appear in the MMIR that she was moved to either facility (SWT or Miami) that has mature males in the US for this pregnancy.

Katrl and Naya both welcome newborns! | Shedd Aquarium
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According to Shedd, Katrl daughter was conceive naturally, so the father is likely Sagu.
 
According to the latest copy of the MMIR, Piquet and Ipo moved from Shedd Aquarium to SeaWorld San Antonio on October 27. No other moves have taken place.

Helen also appears in this copy, though she still physically resides at and is owned by Vancouver Aquarium. Her NOAA ID number is NOA0010676.
 
SWT (2.5)
Betty F
Piquet F
Avalon F
Hailey F
Ohana F
Bolt M
Ipo M

Miami (2.2)
Loke M
Li’I F
Catalina F
2018 Calf M*

Shedd (2.4)
Kri F
Katrl F
Munchkin F
Sagu M
Makoa M
Katrl’s Calf F (b 08/30/2020)

Vancouver (0.1)
Helen F

Total Population
(6.12)


*Does anyone know the name of the 2018 M calf at Miami and if it is Loke x Li'i calf?
 
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