Jeju Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin "Chunsami," released from an aquarium into the sea 12 years ago, has been observed giving birth to a third calf.
According to DocuJeju and the Jeju National University Cetacean and Marine Biodiversity Research Center on Dec. 1, Chunsami, an Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin released in Jul. 2013, appears to have given birth around Oct.
DocuJeju said, "Over four days last month, we witnessed a total of 26 instances of Chunsami and a calf swimming together in the 'mother-calf position.'"
Earlier, on Nov. 12, in Jongdal-ri, Gujwa-eup, Jeju City, DocuJeju found a calf with prominent fetal folds swimming alongside Chunsami and carried out focused tracking activities last month.
Fetal folds refer to stripe-like marks formed as a calf grows curled up in the mother's womb, which remain as patterns for a period of time after birth.
On Jun. 23, 2009, Chunsami was caught in a fixed net set by fishers off Oedo 2-dong, Jeju City, sold for 10 million won to a performance company in Jeju, and used in dolphin shows there.
After the Korea Coast Guard uncovered the illegal dolphin capture and the dolphin company was indicted, the Supreme Court issued a final forfeiture ruling, and Chunsami was released on Jul. 18, 2013, off Gimnyeong, Gujwa-eup, Jeju City.
Chunsami was 9 years old at the time of capture in 2009, spent four years in captivity, and was released back into the wild at age 13. Now 25, Chunsami is estimated to have given birth three times over the 13 years since release.