Elephant baby media kit - Oregon Zoo

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Elephant Babies Last year, the Oregon Zoo announced Rose-Tu was pregnant and would give birth to her second baby elephant sometime in late 2012. If “late 2012” seems imprecise, bear in mind that an elephant’s gestation lasts 20 to 22 months. (See illustration.) Rose-Tu was impregnated by Tusko during the third week of February 2011, so the new baby was expected anytime from late October to late December 2012. The 300-pound calf was born at 2:17 a.m. on Nov. 30, 2012 (see page 3). Successfully bringing a baby elephant into the herd takes a tremendous, coordinated effort between zookeepers, the mother-to-be and the other female elephants, which serve as the baby’s “aunties.” Elephant keepers and veterinarians prepared for Rose- Tu’s birth by keeping her active — both physically and mentally. Through daily exercise, a pregnant elephant can stay toned and healthy, which helps minimize the difficulty of labor. During Rose-Tu’s pregnancy, keepers monitored her weight closely. In the blood Keepers receive much of their information from the elephant’s blood. Using weekly blood tests, they plot the females’ reproductive cycles so breeding can be carefully managed. Elephants cycle about every four months and can conceive only in a short four-day period. Pregnancy can be confirmed about 16 weeks after mating by measuring hormone levels in the blood. If progesterone levels remain elevated for 16 weeks, the elephant is confirmed pregnant. If the elephant is not pregnant, she begins ovulating again, which is confirmed by progesterone levels that drop close to zero. An infant elephant at birth usually weighs between 180 and 330 pounds with the average at about 220 pounds. Rose-Tu weighed 180 pounds upon delivery; Samudra weighed 286 pounds; and the new calf weighed 300 pounds. Part of a family A newborn is an important addition to the herd. Chendra and Sung-Surin served as “aunties,” helping to look after him. Initially, the father, Tusko, will not interact with the baby. Eventually, he will be introduced as the calf continues to interact with the rest of the herd. Nursing is an important part of an infant’s growth and development. After an expected initial weight loss in the first week, calves should gain about 2 pounds per day. A baby elephant can nurse for up to five years, and will begin supplementing its mother’s milk with solid food after 10 or 12 months. A calf learns to eat solid foods by imitating other elephants as he gets older. Waiting for Baby Pygmy Rabbit: 25 days Gorilla: 257 days Caracal: 70-78 days Blue whale: 360 days Gestation Period 4 months Bringing up baby When a baby is born, the mother’s instincts should respond immediately. She may try to help the calf to its feet (with her trunk or foot). It’s uncommon, but not unheard of, for elephants to actually lift the calf to its feet. In the wild, there is a constant threat from predators. A calf that doesn’t get to its feet quickly is at risk of being attacked by a predator. Giraffe: 420-468 days Asian elephant: 640-660 days SOURCES: Restoring the Pacific Northwest; Exploring Mammals, Int’l Wildlife Encyclopedia; A Companion to Biological Anthropology; Mammalogy; Biology, Medicine, and Surgery of Elephants S. Hess / ©Oregon Zoo 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 8
zoo family The new elephant baby’s ties to other Oregon Zoo elephants run deep. In fact, the calf joins Samudra as the only third-generation elephant births in the U.S.A. Explore the family tree to see how this tightly bonded group has grown over time. Elephants are matriarchal, so the herd’s two main genealogical lines are indicated by their female founders, Belle and Rosy. PET SUNG-SURIN (SHINE) BELLE PACKY RAMA THONGLAW ROSY TUSKO SAMUDRA HUGO ME-TU ROSE-TU Sam’s new sibling was born Nov. 30 2012. CHENDRA joined the herd in 1999 after she was orphaned in Borneo; she is Sam’s favorite “auntie.” — the Oregon Zoo elephant herd Hugo photo by Benjamin Brink, courtesy of The Oregonian. 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 9
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Elephant baby media kit - Oregon Zoo

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