A view into a womb: A pregnant dolphin's ultrasound

In early 2007, Vancouver Aquarium staff determined that Hana, a 12-year-old Pacific white-sided dolphin, living at the Aquarium was pregnant. Aquarium staff were monitoring her pregnancy using ultrasound. Unfortunately, she miscarried on May 22, 2007.

Because Pacific white-sided dolphin pregnancies are relatively rare in aquariums, every one of Hana's ultrasounds gave us essential information not only on Hana and her fetus, but also about this species' physiology and life history in general.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• vancouver
• aquairum
• dolphin
• hana
• ultrasound
• baby

[xXtigerxbloodXx]

If it would cause pain to either of the dolphins I'm sure they wouldn't do it...right?

[VancouverAquarium]

That's right!

[LadyPlural]

I am sure this is a stupid question, but can dolphins hear the ultrasound?

[VancouverAquarium]

Not a stupid question at all. The answer is that modern diagnostic ultrasounds are well beyond the hearing range of whales and dolphins.

[CaminDaR]

12 years old and pregnant sounds like jamie lyn spears ZINGG lol jk but this is awesome. i heard if you put a pregnant WOMAN in the water with 3 other dolphins the dolphins can sense that she is pregnant and will start swimming in circles around the woman in means to protect her. anyone know if this is true?

[italianbabe15]

Wow! That is so cool! I can actually see the baby, and I usually can't even make out human babies in ultrasounds lol! Do you think they will eventually have those 3D ultrasounds for the sea moms to be, like the ones for human moms? Thats kinda a silly question, but it would be so cool to see!