A pregnant sea cow that couldn’t have an ultrasound because she was so fat has delighted zookeepers after giving birth to a healthy baby.

The Caribbean manatee carried her newborn calf for over a year, but keepers could not check on the first time mum's condition because she was too large to be scanned.

Zookeepers at Royal Burgers’ Zoo in the Netherlands could only watch and wait for the five-year-old female to give birth because her size made an ultrasound out of the question.

Marine biologists say a scan could have also caused the gentle sea cow unnecessary stress.

A pregnant ‘sea cow’ that couldn’t have an ultrasound because she was so fat has delighted zookeepers after giving birth to a healthy baby.

The Caribbean manatee carried her newborn calf for over a year, but keepers could not check on the first time mum's condition because she was too large to be scanned.

Zookeepers at Royal Burgers’ Zoo in the Netherlands could only watch and wait for the five-and-a-half year old female to give birth because her size made an ultrasound out of the question.

Marine biologists say a scan could have also caused the gentle ‘sea cow’ unnecessary stress.