After mating, female bottlenose dolphins start the gestation period which lasts approximately twelve months.

After this time, a single calf is born, usually with the help of another female dolphin which assumes the role of a midwife.

Dolphin mothers give birth to the calf by releasing the tail of the offspring first, to avoid that the new dolphin gets drown.

The mother nourishes the calf for up to 18 months with milk produced by her body.

After weaning, young dolphins stay with their mothers for around six years until they have developed all the skills for hunting and surviving.

Dolphin calves are born after long gestation periods inside their mothers that range between 11 and 17 months according to the species.

Mothers deliver calves with the aid of another female dolphin who makes the role of a midwife.

Calves stay with their mothers for several years until they can survive by themselves.

After approximately six years, a time which also varies according to the species, young dolphins can hunt and protect themselves, so they leave their mothers and start an independent life.

This independent life sometimes means moving to another pod, but this is not a rule in all species as in some cases, just the females move to another group.