, /PRNewswire/ -- It's a 'baby boom' at SeaWorld San Antonio as the park celebrates the arrival of two cetacean calves, a Pacific white-sided dolphin and a beluga whale. Both births occurred within two days of each other at the Beluga Whale and Dolphin Stadium under the watchful eyes of animal care specialists and the park's veterinary team. Additionally, the park recently welcomed a sea lion, a harbor seal, and a critically endangered radiated tortoise.
"We are excited to welcome two new additions to our whale and dolphin pod," said , Curator of Zoological Operation at SeaWorld San Antonio. "Based on early observations, we are cautiously optimistic that both the calves and the mothers are on the path to reach normal milestones. Our team of animal care specialists will observe the calves and mothers around the clock for the next several weeks.
" Both mothers, Piquet, a 36-year-old Pacific white-sided dolphin, and Luna, a 23-year-old beluga whale, are experienced mothers and have previously given birth and raised multiple calves each. After approximately 50 minutes of labor, Piquet gave birth to a female calf weighing roughly 20 pounds and measuring 20 inches long. Luna's calf, a male weighing approximately 130 pounds and four feet long, was born after two and half hours of labor.
Both calves were born tail first, the typical position for whales and dolphins during parturition. The calves will swim closely alongside their mothers often gliding in their slip stream for several w.
