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Because dolphins are considered to be a barometer for the health of our seas, here is some great news for the Florida Keys waters...
Shown above:  On November 4th, 2002, we were completely surprised to see our old pal, Leah, who also has a 4 year old daughter, Lana,  with her newborn baby.  From the calves appearance we estimated that the baby was about a week old.  We can see this from the appearance and coloration of the calves skin and lack of full rigidity in the dorsal fin and tail flukes.  With a telephoto lens and some patience we were able to get some great shots of Leah's beautiful little baby.

November 2006 - Another successful year for calves!

 

The first few babies of the year have made their appearances! 

 

Grandy has had yet another baby! Let's see that is Sweetheart, Nick, Orion, Ono and our new arrival! Keep up the great work Grandy!

Longtall also had a baby in November 06. Longtall has been a favorite of many people because she is so easy to recognize with her long dorsal fin.

 

Leah (shown left) is pregnant again!!! As you can see from the pictures on the left, she had her last baby in 2002. We expect to see her new baby early in 2008.

Nicky had a baby in December 2006.

Below are some of the arrivals of the past few years.

 

January 2002 - Local Pod has Record Year for Newborn Calves
The fall of 2001 was a very exciting time for us and the local pod.  At least six new calves were born and they couldn't be more adorable.  We've been fortunate to see them regularly and have even witnessed them playing together while their mothers and nannies keep a close eye on them. We have identified the proud mothers as Digit (Sept. 2001 birth), Luna (baby born on 11/13/01), Split (early January 2002), Ally (November 2001 birth), Spice (October 2001 birth) and Nicky (Sept. 2001 birth).  
Pictured at right is Nicky and her beautiful baby girl we now call 'Flossy'.  Flossy was named by Marco and Tim Queck of Germany.  Marco and Tim were out on Dolphin Watch for a whole week this past summer and were able to spend lots of time observing Nicky and her baby.  They decided on the name 'Flossy' because it means 'Fin' in German.
September 2000 - It's A Boy!
Grandy gives birth to another gorgeous calf!  Grandy is an amazing female dolphin who we've seen leaping clear out the water, chasing fish, at 12 months pregnant.  We have been friends with Grandy ever since we began visiting the dolphins back in 1986.  Grandy is also the mother of Sweetheart, Nicholas, Orion, and now the latest member of the pod, Ono.  (We named him after one of our favorite dolphin watchers, Mitch Ono, from Houston, Texas.)  Ono was born in September of 2000 and we have now verified that Ono is a male.  As of February 2003, he is now over two years old and is almost as big as his mother.  We have recently seen him chasing and catching fish on his own and having fun wrestling and playing amongst a group of babies and their moms.  Grandy and Ono are still regularly seen traveling with Digit, Luna and Nicky and their new born calves. Grandy seems to be taking Ono on quite a tour since he was born as we have seen them in many different areas, covering vast territories. Photo at left: Grandy's distinct fin.
 
 

Dolphin Watch - Key West's Original Dolphin Tour - Toll Free 866 4 DOLPHIN (866 436 5744) - email: info@dolphinwatch.org
Copyright © 2000-2007 Dolphin Watch, Inc. All rights reserved. Photographs not to be used without permission. Photos: Capt. Alma Armendariz & Capt. John Baltzell - not to be used without permission. site by: alma.