Xiamen waters welcome first Chinese white dolphin calf of 2026

At around 10 am on April 14th, a delightful scene unfolded in the western waters of Xiamen in Southeast China's Fujian Province — where a group of Chinese white dolphins were seen swimming together. 
The biggest surprise was seeing Dabai, a dolphin famous online for "taking babies out", swim alongside an adorable newborn calf. This is the first Chinese white dolphin calf observed and photographed in Xiamen waters this year.

The newborn dolphin calf is less than a month old. In the captured video footage, the calf appears to be in good health — swimming nimbly and steadily keeping up with the adult dolphins around it and staying close to Dabai.

Dabai is a celebrity dolphin in Xiamen waters, beloved by countless residents for her heartwarming parenting behavior. She is considered a "super expert in taking calves out for a swim" among Chinese white dolphins and is also affectionately called a "hero mother".
Last year, Dabai was even given the honorary title of "Xiamen Ecological Citizen". She has not only given birth to many calves herself but has also helped other mothers in her pod take care of their young. This time marks the fifth time she has been observed "swimming with a calf".

In recent years, newborn Chinese white dolphins have been observed every year in Xiamen waters. This indicates that the local population is stable and has a healthy age structure. It also reflects the continued improvement of the marine ecological environment in Xiamen waters, providing suitable conditions for the survival and reproduction of Chinese white dolphins and other rare marine species.
Source: Xiamen Foreign Affairs