A Scientific Milestone: Mexico’s First Artificial Insemination Dolphin Birth

Feb. 4, 2010 - PRLog -- The birth represents the first calf in Mexico to be born after using sperm sexing and artificial insemination technologies. The calf is the result of a recent collaboration between Dolphin Adventures and SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Reproductive Research Center in San Diego, CA.

SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Reproductive Research Center (SWBGRRC) is the only organization in the world to apply preferential sex-selection reproductive research to exotic animals.

“Our artificial insemination program has now produced 10 sex-selected dolphin calves worldwide,  This birth further proves that assisted reproductive technology can be applied successfully for species management in a zoological setting,” said Dr. Todd Robeck, SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment  (SWPE) corporate director of Theriogenology (the study of animal reproduction).  

“There are many species, such as dolphins and elephants, which in the wild exist in single-sex dominated groups.  Our continued advancements in sex-selection technology will allow zoos to provide optimal social environments and maintain species’ genetic diversity.”

In November 2008, Dr. Todd Robeck, Dr. Gisele Montano (Veterinarian and Reproductive Physiologist SWBGRRC) and Paola Smolensky (Veterinary Director DA), artificially inseminated Aclina,  35-year-old, 245 kg Pacific bottlenose dolphin at Dolphin Adventure.  They used sperm that had been previously sorted then cryopreserved at the Research Center in San Diego, which is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment necessary to sort and freeze sperm.

Sperm sexing by flow cytometry utilizes a technology owned and developed by the biotechnology company XY Inc.   SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Reproductive Research Center modified the technology to separate dolphin sperm that carry a female-producing X chromosome from sperm that carry a male-producing Y chromosome.  Following separation into female and male populations, sperm are frozen and stored for future insemination.  The sexing procedure does not involve genetic modification; it simply separates the female and male producing sperm.  High accuracy of the procedure results in sperm samples containing greater than 90 percent of the desired sex. All sex-selected dolphin calves born to date have been female, giving a 100% success rate for the Centers’ efforts.

At 13:39 December 4, 2009, Aclina gave birth to a healthy female calf, the world’s tenth marine mammal to have its sex determined prior to conception, under the watchful eyes of Dolphin Adventure dolphin trainers, animal care specialists and veterinarians.  The calf weighed approximately 18 kilograms and measured between 4 and 4 1/2 feet.  The first sex-selected zoological species, an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, was born at SeaWorld San Diego in October 2005.  

“We are extremely excited about demonstrating the potential to apply valuable knowledge gained from our research in the Reproductive Center toward bottlenose dolphin reproductive and social health,” said Montano.
Smolensky added that “the achievement demonstrates the potential of our collaborative research project between Dolphin Adventure and SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment which is dedicated toward applying this novel technology toward zoological stewardship.”

While this reproductive technology will significantly assist zoological institutions around the globe to optimally manage their species’ genetic diversity, the knowledge gained from this scientific research may ultimately have application in marine and terrestrial animals in the wild, including endangered species.  “To produce a dolphin whose sex was predetermined for a tenth time is a major milestone for the zoological community,” said Wayne Phillips, General Manager, Dolphin Adventure, Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico.

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Vallarta Adventures/Dolphin Adventures is the premier tour provider for Nuevo Vallarta and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Opened in 1994, Vallarta Adventures offers a vast variety of eco-tours and excursions as well as providing over 1000 dolphin assistance programs at no charge to special needs children and low income families each year. Additionally, Vallarta Adventures gives back to the community by working alongside with local government agencies in protecting local marine and animal wildlife, Humpback Whale rescue, conservation and sustainable development of the environment, education and various charities that benefit the local children and families..