You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
OREGON ZOO NEWS<br />
For im<strong>media</strong>te release | November 30, 2012<br />
IT’S A GIRL! OREGON ZOO ELEPHANT ROSE-TU DELIVERS 2nd CALF<br />
Newest member of zoo’s elephant herd is born at 2:17 a.m. on Nov. 30<br />
PORTLAND, Ore. — The long wait is over. Rose-Tu, an<br />
18-year-old Asian elephant, gave birth to a 300-pound<br />
female calf at the <strong>Oregon</strong> <strong>Zoo</strong> at 2:17 a.m. on Friday,<br />
Nov. 30.<br />
“We’re all delighted at the arrival of Rose-Tu’s new<br />
calf,” said Kim Smith, <strong>Oregon</strong> <strong>Zoo</strong> director. “The calf<br />
is beautiful, healthy, tall and very vigorous. As soon as<br />
she hit the ground — before she was even out of the<br />
amniotic sac — she was wiggling. And she’s vocalizing<br />
loudly. The first time we heard her, the sound was so<br />
deep and loud that we thought it was Shine. She’s<br />
definitely got a great set of pipes, and it looks like she’s<br />
going to be a real pistol.”<br />
Smith said Rose-Tu is doing well after more than 30<br />
hours of labor and more than 21 months of pregnancy,<br />
thanks to a daily exercise regimen that has kept her<br />
in top shape. <strong>Zoo</strong> staff and much of the surrounding<br />
community had been on <strong>baby</strong> watch since Nov. 25,<br />
when Rose-Tu’s progesterone levels dropped to near<br />
zero, indicating labor should begin soon. Rose entered<br />
early labor in the afternoon of Nov. 28 and began<br />
showing signs of active labor around 12 a.m. today.<br />
Im<strong>media</strong>tely following the birth, the zoo’s animal-care<br />
staff took the calf aside to clean it and perform a quick<br />
veterinary checkup, and they are now working to<br />
reintroduce the mother and calf.<br />
“Rose is doing considerably better this time around,”<br />
Smith said. “When Samudra was born, it was four<br />
days before she would even let him come near her, so<br />
we’re much farther along this time. We’re starting to<br />
see motherly behavior from Rose, and the calf is already<br />
nursing a bit. These are great signs that the mothercalf<br />
bond will be a strong one. Our animal-care staff<br />
is working hard to help the two along, and things are<br />
progressing every minute.”<br />
“Our keepers and veterinary staff have put an<br />
extraordinary amount of work and care into helping<br />
Rose-Tu bring her <strong>baby</strong> into the world,” Smith added.<br />
“The time spent training and preparing has paid off, and<br />
the outcome is exactly the one we’d hoped for: Rose is<br />
safe and healthy, and she has a beautiful newborn calf.<br />
Now that the <strong>baby</strong>’s here, we’re all excited to watch her<br />
bond with Rose-Tu and take her place in the herd.”<br />
It might still take a little time before the new <strong>baby</strong> is<br />
ready for visitors though.<br />
“The main thing determining that will be the strength<br />
of the bond between Rose-Tu<br />
and the calf,” said Bob Lee,<br />
the zoo’s elephant curator.<br />
“Rose should allow the calf<br />
to nurse regularly, sleep, play<br />
and generally act like a calf<br />
without trying to stop it and<br />
control its movements. Then<br />
we’ll determine whether she’s<br />
calm and comfortable with staff<br />
around. And finally, we want<br />
to make sure the calf has had a<br />
chance to bond with the rest of<br />
the herd.”<br />
Now that elephant keepers<br />
know the calf is a girl, they’ll<br />
choose a short list of possible<br />
names and the zoo’s elephant<br />
fans will have a chance to vote<br />
O R E G O N Z O O P A C h y d e r m P r e s e n t 2 0 1 2 M E D I A K I T 3
Change language