First Offspring of Rescued Hurricane Katrina Dolphins Are Born at Dolphin Cay; Atlantis, Paradise Island Resort in The Bahamas Celebrates the First & Second Miraculous Births!

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas -- The first offspring of the famed rescued "Katrina Dolphins" were born at Dolphin Cay, the new dolphin interaction and education center at Atlantis, Paradise Island resort in The Bahamas. The first was born to 32-year old Kelly on April 4th and the second calf was born on April 6th to 21-year old Michelle. The two moms, who were together in a special maternity pool within the habitat at the time of both births, have spent the first days nurturing and bonding with the newest members of the Dolphin Cay family. The calves are being monitored 24-hours a day by the marine mammal specialists to ensure they are healthy and developing on schedule.

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Kelly, Michelle and 14 of their fellow Dolphin Cay residents were stranded and swept to sea when their former home at the Marine Life Oceanarium in Gulfport, MS, was destroyed during the famous Hurricane Katrina storm in August 2005. After being rescued and nursed back to health, all of the dolphins were eventually transported to Atlantis, Paradise Island resort in The Bahamas to fully recover and reside in the new state-of-the-art habitat Dolphin Cay.

The residents of Dolphin Cay are all Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins who live in eleven interconnected pools containing nearly seven-million gallons of crystal clear seawater, and are cared for night and day by a team of over 55 marine mammal specialists. The Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins have an average gestation of 12 months, which at the end of this period they give birth to live young, called calves. At birth, the average calf for a bottlenose dolphin is 3-feet long and weighs about 40 pounds, with sparse hair on its rostrum. The mammal will nurse from its mother for 12-18 months, and will begin to eat fish at 4-5 months of age.

In addition to the interactive coves, the Dolphin Cay facility serves as the only marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation center in The Bahamas. On March 27, 2007, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) announced that the Atlantis, Paradise Island resort was granted accreditation by the AZA's independent Accreditation Commission. To be accredited, Atlantis underwent thorough investigation to ensure it has and will continue to meet ever-rising standards, which include animal care, veterinary programs, conservation, education and safety.

For further information about Atlantis, Paradise Island please visit www.Atlantis.com.