Composition Analysis of the Colostrum and Attempted Hand-rearing of a Neglected Harbor Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)

Abstract

The harbor porpoise is a marine mammal rarely seen in aquariums. The ecology of this species is not well known, and captive breeding is difficult without essential information such as milk composition, amount consumed and frequency nursed per day, and lactation period. At the Otaru Aquarium in Japan, several deliveries of harbor porpoise offspring have occurred, but the calves have not survived. In the present study, we analyzed the colostrum of a harbor porpoise and attempted to hand-rear a calf using artificial milk after the mother denied nursing. The crude fat and crude protein contents of the colostrum were relatively high compared to values for other odontocetes. The present information will be helpful for future efforts to hand-rear harbor porpoises.