A bottlenose dolphin safely delivered a calf early Saturday morning at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, a “momentous occasion” that marks the first dolphin birth in more than a decade at the west suburban

Every birth is a remarkable learning opportunity, and the scientific information we gain benefits marine conservation efforts," Dr. Mike Adkesson, Brookfield Zoo Chicago president and CEO, said.

The Brookfield Zoo welcomed its newest addition as a bottlenose dolphin calf was born overnight. According to the zoo, this is the first birth for the species, also known as Tursiops truncatus, since 2014.