PANAMA CITY BEACH —A 9-year-old bottlenose dolphin named Mia gave birth to a female baby at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Gulf World Marine Park.
The baby was Gulf World’s first attempt at artificial insemination, according to a release from Pam George of Gulf World.
Dan Blasko at Gulf World has been in charge of training the animals and staff for the artificial insemination process. Dr. Lydia Staggs, staff veterinarian, supervised Saturday’s birthing process.
Gulf World worked closely with members of the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums and other scientific organizations in preparing for the birth.
Mia was born at Gulf World in 2005 and this is her second offspring.