Yangtze finless porpoise calf born in rare head-first delivery turns one month old

A male Yangtze finless porpoise calf born at the Institute of Hydrobiology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences has reached one month of age and is developing well. Nicknamed "Xiao 26 (Little 26)" by researchers, the calf was born on May 22 to an 18-year-old female porpoise named Fujiu.

The birth marked the first recorded head-first delivery among the managed Yangtze finless porpoise population.

While tail-first birth is generally considered the typical delivery mode for toothed whales such as porpoises and dolphins, head-first births have also been documented in species including killer whales and bottlenose dolphins.

Researchers said the newborn measured about 70 centimeters in length and weighed around 5 kilograms at birth. Now more than one month old, Xiao 26 has grown to over 80 cm in length and weighs about 9 kg, nearly double its birth weight. The calf remains active and healthy, swimming independently and exploring its surroundings.

Fujiu was introduced from the wild in 2011 and has successfully raised two calves, making her an experienced mother. The calf's father, Taotao, is the world's first Yangtze finless porpoise born under human care. Xiao 26 is the third offspring produced by the pair.