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The votes are in, and the National Aquarium’s newest dolphin has a name! Members of the public cast more than 22,400 votes via text message and at www.wbaltv.com, and Bayley was the clear favorite with 31% of the votes. With the help of the Aquarium’s dolphins, Baltimore City Mayor Sheila Dixon announced the winning name during a live broadcast from the shallow end of the dolphin pool.

Bayley was born on July 27, 2008, to 16-year old mother Chesapeake. Together their names honor the Chesapeake Bay. Bayley is a very curious young dolphin. Now almost 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,” commented Sue Hunter, director of animal programs at the National Aquarium. “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.”

Bayley is the 10th successful dolphin birth at the National Aquarium since 1990. She is residing in our nursery pool with her mother and her grandmother, 26-year old Shiloh. She also shares the nursery pool with another 1-year old youngster, Foster, and his mother, 9-year old Jade. The calf’s father Chinook lives in a separate pool with four other dolphins; Nani, Beau, Spirit and Maya.

Dolphins are among the Aquarium’s most popular animals. The Aquarium offers daily shows, dolphin encounters, behind the scenes tours and other programs to connect visitors with the aquatic world, and inspire them to enjoy, respect and protect the dolphins’ natural ocean habitats.

The public can help support Bayley’s care and feeding through a special dolphin calf Aquadopt. For a limited time only, Aquadopt-ers will receive a personalized certificate, photo, a special plush, and more. Visit aqua.org/dolphins for details.

The National Aquarium in Baltimore, a non-profit organization, is Maryland’s most exciting and popular cultural attraction, as well as one of the region’s leading conservation and education resources, hosting more than 1.6 million visitors per year. Through transforming experiences, the National Aquarium inspires people to enjoy, respect, and protect the aquatic world. It is dedicated to education and conservation through more than a dozen programs that serve the environment and the community.