For this reason babies end up with a few cuts and scrapes within the first weeks of life. Merina had a lot of steering to do within her daughter Pandora's first very active days of life. Pandora was quite spirited and would often try and race in front of her mother. We often saw Merina physically pick Pandora up with her rostrum and place her in another part of the pool. They nurse, on average, for two years but have been observed to nurse up to four and a half years.
Calves have many fringes along the edges of their tongue, believed to be an aid in nursing.
Calves apparently roll their tongue and clasp the fringes together in order to form a watertight funnel for the milk to flow through. Mothers take the active role in nursing by squirting the milk into the baby's mouth. Watching the maternity aspect of a dolphin's life is an amazing experience. The knowledge that we can gain by studying this facet of cetacean life can provide valuable insights into the life of a dolphin. All Rights Reserved.