The world's first two dolphins conceived using the technique of artificial insemination have been born in Hong Kong. The technique could help save the endangered species. The two dolphins, one female and one male, were born in May 2001. Ada and Gina, the mother dolphins, were impregnated in June 2000.
The ovulation cycles of the dolphins are very irregular, making artificial insemination difficult. Attempts to inseminate them in the us have failed because of this. But, scientists of Hong Kong-based Polytechnic University, using the ultrasound technique were able to accurately predict their ovulation. They now plan to inseminate dolphins using frozen sperms. "We can bring frozen sperm from anywhere and inseminate females or we can send the semen. This will increase the genetic pool," said Fiona Brook, an associate professor at the university.
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