This was an example of just how quickly a dolphin can learn. One of the first things a person appreciates about dolphins is that they are, not fish, but mammals. The mother gives birth to one baby at a time, called a calf, after a gestation period of 8 to 11 months. The calf emerges from the mother's body tail first. As soon as the calf is born, the mother nudges the baby to the surface for its first breath of air.
Most dolphins have their young during the warm months of the year.
The other dolphins guard against sharks and other predators that might be attracted by the scent of blood. To protect the mother and the baby, sentinel dolphins will form a wall surrounding them and when the shark does try to attack, they will butt it in the liver using their heads, killing the unwelcome intruder within minutes. This, at times, includes discipline when the baby is rambunctious. The mother disciplines an unruly calf by taking it between her jaws and then either submerges it or holds it out of water for about half a minute. Young ones usually stay with the mothers for at least one to two years, while continuing to nurse.