China, an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, gave birth to a 30-pound calf late Monday after an approximate 12 month gestation, zoo officials announced Wednesday.

Zookeepers said China has been an attentive and affectionate mother, with the calf, which is believed to be a girl, able to nurse within 24 hours.

This is the fourth successful dolphin birth at the zoo.

Nova gave birth to daughter Kalei in 2000, China had daughter Indy in 2001 and Ripley's male calf, Jett, was born in 2002.

China, which is one of the zoo's original dolphins, is in her late 20s to early 30s, prime time for dolphin motherhood, officials said.

The zoo's dolphin pod also includes an adult male, Kimo.

The Dolphin Adventure Pavilion at the zoo will be temporarily closed to the public as mother, calf and the rest of the pod adjust to the newcomer.