Sea World's youngest dolphin celebrates first birthday with basketball and buckets of fish

BUCKETS filled with fish and a basketball are not the hallmarks of your typical first birthday party. Check out the pics as Sea World's baby dolphin turned one today.

Stella with her mum Sunnie. Picture Mike Batterham

BUCKETS filled with fish and a basketball are not the hallmarks of your typical first birthday party.

But for Sea World's youngest dolphin, Stella, it was the perfect celebration this morning.

The calf was assisted to unwrap a basketball as trainers at the Gold Coast theme park sang happy birthday.

Stella was only 15kg when she was born, but at 84kg now, the offshore bottlenose dolphin is one of the bigger adolescents in her species.

Sea World's youngest dolphin Stella. Picture Mike Batterham

"She is a third-generation captive-born dolphin, which is pretty special," Sea World Marine Mammal Trainer Erin Oakley said.

Ms Oakley said Stella was one of the "more confident" calves at Sea World, and she had already participated in a number of shows.

But don't expect her to be a child star - she'll only take part in shows when she wants to.

"We want her to enjoy her childhood," Ms Oakley said.

Stella's parents, Sunnie and Kiama, were on hand to help her celebrate with a couple of serious acrobatic moves followed by bellies full of fish.

Stella with her mum Sunnie. Picture Mike Batterham