(CN - HKG) IVF dolphins a world first for Ocean Park

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Thursday, June 28, 2001 South China Morning Post

by CHEUNG CHI-FAI http://hongkong.scmp.com/ZZZ37TUBEOC.html

 

The world's first artificially conceived dolphins have been born at

Ocean Park, with experts saying the technique could reduce the need to

capture animals in the wild for breeding.

 

The two bottlenose calves, born on May 14 and 25, now weigh about 15kg

after weighing 12kg at birth.

 

They were conceived in May last year when four dolphins were

artificially inseminated with sperm from 17-year-old Molly. Only 22-year-old

Ada and Gina, 20, fell pregnant.

 

Suzanne Gendron, the head of Ocean Park's zoological operations and

education department, said the baby dolphins were slightly larger at birth

than calves born in the wild.

 

" They were born weighing in the upper limit for normal calves. They

are both doing brilliantly, marvellous, " she said.

 

Ms Gendron said the park has been building up a sperm bank that could

help maintain the genetic diversity of captive dolphins around the world

without aquariums having to capture more animals.

 

She said the inbreeding of animals in captivity could result in health

problems.

 

But Ms Gendron said an in-vitro fertilisation programme could be

carried out on an international scale. " It would reduce the need to take

animals from the wild to maintain gene diversity. "

 

The babies have been with their mothers since birth and have been

feeding on their mother's milk. The park intends holding a competition to

name the two calves - a male and a female.

 

Fiona Brook, an associate professor of the department of optometry and

radiography at the Polytechnic University, said the success of the IVF

programme was made possible with new ultrasound scanning techniques, which

allowed scientists to determine the best time for insemination. She said

dolphins had unpredictable fertility cycles.

 

" The technique allowed real-time monitoring of whether a dolphin was

going to ovulate before insemination. They are almost 100 per cent

accurate. "

 

" The insemination process can be done during a seven-minute procedure

and the result can be known after three to four weeks. "

 

The park intends to artificially inseminate two more dolphins this

summer - this time using sperm from another donor, Wiki.

 

Ms Gendron said the technique could in principle be applied to the

rare Chinese White Dolphin. However, she said there was currently no need as

the population was large enough to support natural breeding.

 

" We would only explore this possibility if the dolphin became

endangered, " she said.

 

There are about 1,000 Chinese White Dolphins in the Pearl River delta.