The newest dolphin at the National Aquarium in Baltimore has a name, thanks to more than 22,400 votes from the public.
The name Bayley was the clear favorite among the public, winning about 31 percent of the vote.
With the help of the aquarium’s dolphins, Baltimore City Mayor Sheila Dixon announced the winning name last weekend from the shallow end of the dolphin pool.
Bayley was born on July 27, to 16-year-old mother, Chesapeake. Together their names honor the Chesapeake Bay.
According to the aquarium, Bayley is a very curious young dolphin. Now 4 months old, she spends most of her time exploring her environment and playing with the other young dolphin, Foster. She has begun interacting with trainers and eating fish. The trainers are very encouraged by her intelligence and eagerness to play.
“The marine mammal staff at the National Aquarium is very happy with the name Bayley,” Sue Hunter, director of animal programs at the National Aquarium, said in a statement. “A dolphin calf’s survival in the first few months of life depends on the care its mother provides, and so naming her after her mother Chesapeake is perfect.”
The aquarium’s marine mammal staff and volunteers gathered name ideas while watching the calf grow over the last three months. The names were narrowed to five choices that each had a strong tie to Maryland, and fit well with the young calf’s developing personality.
