The Oklahoma City Zoo recently welcomed a new addition to its animal family – a premature Asian elephant calf. Asha, the mother, gave birth to the female calf on Friday at the elephant barn inside Sanctuary Asia, almost two months before her expected due date.
Early Arrival
Despite being premature, the calf appears to be in good health and will remain under observation. She weighs 264 pounds, which is within the average birth weight for Asian elephants. The calf was up and moving shortly after being born, a positive sign for her health.
Rachel Boyd, the Oklahoma City Zoo’s curator of elephants, expressed cautious optimism about the calf’s future, stating that the zoo’s caretakers and veterinary team are closely monitoring the calf for healthy behaviors like standing, nursing, and sleeping.
Asha and the newborn calf will remain off public view to allow them quality time together. The Oklahoma City Zoo’s elephant herd now stands at nine and spans three generations. The calf’s name has not been announced.
Asian elephants are endangered due to threats such as habitat loss and human-elephant conflict. The Oklahoma City Zoo’s efforts to care for and breed these animals contribute to the conservation of the species.
Original reporting: Oklahoma City News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
