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Orphan Baby Dolphin is Adopted by Female of Completely Different Species

New Zealand · 16 May 2026

A bottlenose dolphin that lost her own calf five years ago adopted a baby of another species entirely, photographed suckling upside-down in New Zealand.

A bottlenose dolphin that lost its own calf five years ago has adopted a baby of another species.

The inter-species adoption, which is “extremely rare” among dolphins, was confirmed when Lawrence Hamilton, a sightseeing boat crew member from the Fullers GreatSights Bay photographed the calf swimming upside-down and suckling from its adopted mom in New Zealand.

( READ the story, with more photos at the New Zealand Herald )

Photo by Lawrence Hamilton- Story tip from Julia Frerichs, LMT

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