Brookfield Zoo Chicago captured the remarkable moment a bottlenose dolphin gave birth early Saturday, assisted by another experienced dolphin, in a video released by zoo staff.

The 38-year-old dolphin, Allie, delivered her calf in the early hours as a team of veterinarians monitored the process. In the footage, voices cheer her on — “Push, push, push” — as the calf’s tail emerges. Moments later, the baby dolphin wriggles free and instinctively swims to the surface for its first breath.

Accompanying Allie in the birthing pool was Tapeko, a 43-year-old dolphin who has previously given birth. She remained close throughout the hour-long labor and was seen guiding the newborn to the surface immediately after birth.

According to Dr. Jennifer Langan, senior veterinarian at the zoo, this kind of cooperative behavior is typical among dolphins. “It’s very common in the wild and in aquariums,” she said, explaining that it helps the new mother during intense contractions by ensuring the calf reaches the surface for air.

Zoo officials report that the calf appears to be healthy, weighing approximately 35 pounds (16 kilograms) and measuring about four feet long (115–120 cm) — comparable to an adult golden retriever in size.

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The zoo's Seven Seas exhibit will remain closed temporarily to allow the calf time to bond with Allie and integrate with the dolphin pod. As part of that bonding process, the calf has already begun slipstreaming — swimming in its mother’s wake to conserve energy.

Veterinarians will continue to closely monitor key milestones, including nursing, swimming ability, and overall development, especially over the next 30 days. A paternity test will be conducted to identify the calf’s father from among the zoo’s male dolphins.

The calf has not yet been named, but the zoo plans to announce it later this summer.