Born the size of a jelly bean, koalas travel to their mother’s pouch where they stay until they are old enough to cling onto her back.
Elephant Birth Info
1. When is the next elephant calf due to be born?
Our elephant herd has now experienced 2 successful elephant births. Our first calf Luk Chai was born to Thong Dee at 3.08am on the 4th July 2009. The second calf was born to our matriarch Porntip on the 10th March 2010 at 3:27am.
The pregnancy of a third calf to our female Pak Boon is also progressing well and is due in November 2010.
2. Are there any special preparations you've had to make?
We have put in place incredibly detailed and extensive plans to support all our pregnant females. These plans include dietary and fitness programs, preparing of specialised veterinary equipment, barn fit-out for the arrival of a young calves and a world renowned expert in elephant reproduction is available to assist from the first signs of labour.
Taronga's elephant manager has over 30 years experience with elephants and assisted in many births. He is integrated into the social structure of the elephant herd and will participate as an "auntie" during the birth process.
3. How did the female elephants get pregnant?
Our male elephant Gung has naturally bred and impregnated two of our female elephants - Thong Dee and Pak Boon. He is the first and only male elephant in Australia to ever achieve this.
Our female matriarch - Porntip became pregnant through artificial insemination. This was performed by a world renowned team of elephant reproduction specialists from the Berlin Institute of Zoo Biology and Wildlife Research. This artificial insemination technique is vital to the genetic diversity and health of the future elephant herd to ensure that the calves are not all related.
4. Where will the elephants be during the birth?
Many elephant births occur overnight. The elephant family will be in their heated barn as the onset of labour begins. It is very important that all the elephants are close by during the birth process to learn, bond and gain experience from these events.
Keepers that are closely bonded to the elephants will be with them throughout the births and experienced vets will also be on site.
5. Why is it necessary for Keepers to assist the elephants in the birth process?
In a wild herd of elephants females gain birthing and maternal experience from a very young age through witnessing many births in the herd. By the time it’s their turn they are prepared for the event and have a support structure of older experienced females.
Our females at Taronga Zoo were born in captive elephant camps in Thailand. They have very little or in some cases no experience of the birth process and newborn calves. Our elephants have very close bonds with the Keepers who have been part of their social group for many years. The Keepers provide the support structure for the elephant mother and the newborn calf to ensure the birth process is as smooth and calm as possible. With every successful birth the elephants will gain experience which will assist them greatly in the future. As the females learn and participate in more births the roles and support structure required by the Keepers will diminish.
6. How long does it take for an elephant to give birth?
Elephant labour can vary from one hour to a few days. A team of keepers and specialist vets will be with them throughout the entire process to assist and help out where necessary.
7 .Does the mother give birth lying down?
No, elephants give birth standing up, but they sometimes squat.
8. How big is an elephant calf?
Asian Elephant calves can weigh between 90kg - 120 kg at birth.
9. Why do you put a harness on a new born calf?
A harness is fitted to a new born calf a few hours after they are born. The harness is designed to help the Keepers introduce the new-born calf to its mother and the other female elephants. For females with no or very little experience with young calves having this strange object run underneath you and fall over can be a scary prospect. Many calves have unfortunately been killed by inexperienced females who squash the calf out of fear.
The harness allows the Keepers to maintain control over a strong and slippery calf and ensure that these introductions to the females are successful.
The harness is immediatley removed after the elephants have accepted and are comfortable with the calf.
As our female elephants gain more experience with new born calves this harness is unlikely to be required.
10. How much does an elephant calf eat?
The calf suckles milk from its mother, generally taking up to 12 litres each day.
11. How long will it nurse for?
Baby elephants are usually dependent on mother's milk for up to three years, although they can be weaned at two years of age. By the time a calf is nine months old, 40 per cent of its diet is vegetation. The calf learns how and what to eat by watching the older elephants.
12. Can a calf use its trunk?
It takes time for a calf to acquire trunk coordination. At first it may only be able to wave it around in the air, suck on it or trip over it. However within a week the calf has usually gained enough control to try picking up and carrying small objects and food.
13. When can visitors see the calf?
After the calves are born, as long as everything goes OK, a mother and calf will spend time in the elephant barn to bond and build their relationship, so zoo visitors may not be able to see anything for a while.
While we know that an elephant birth is an exciting event we hope our visitors will understand that the health of our females and new born calves is our paramount priority.
We'll make sure public announcements are made to let people know when calves will be outside and can be seen. Large plasma screens are installed around the elephant exhibit so visitors are able to see CCTV and other camera footage.
14. What are the chances of success?
Nothing is ever guaranteed with a pregnancy for any species.
It is important for people to realise that all our pregnant females will be first-time mothers. Despite every precaution and all our preparations, statistically there is around a 40 - 50% mortality rate with first-time elephant pregnancies. However, we have a strongly bonded group of elephants who have now experienced successful calf births and these events will greatly assist our elephant females with future calf births. The Zoo also has an experienced and dedicated team of Keepers & Veterinary staff who will be on-hand to assist the elephants further.
The zoo is actively planning for success, but must acknowledge the possibility of other outcomes during the birth of any elephant calf.
15. Will there be room at the Zoo for the elephants and their calves?
The elephant barn and paddocks were designed using international standards and can accommodate four elephant cows and four calves, but we won't have that many for some years to come. As part of the program female calves will stay with their mothers for life just as they would naturally. Male calves will move from the main herd as they mature. This movement of young males is also part of the normal natural lifecycle and space will be provided for them at other Zoo's who will participate in the breeding program.
16. What is the point of the breeding program?
The successful birth of these elephant calves is the starting point for a self sustaining Asian Elephant population in Australia, one of the main goals of the breeding and conservation program.
The other goals are to raise awareness of issues affecting the survival of Asian Elephants and to raise funds for conservation programs for elephants throughout Asia.
17. Why are the elephant calves given Thai names?
Whilst the elephant calves at Taronga Zoo were born in Australia they will always be Asian elephants of Thai descent. The traditional culture and heritage of the herds former country of Thailand will always be respected and play a role in our elephant program and as such all elephant calves will be given authentic Thai names which are checked and confirmed with Thai Consular officials.
The elephants and their keepers communicate in both the English and Thai languages.
18. How is Pathi Harn now?
The latest calf is doing very well. He has started to venture out from underneath his mum and is enjoying playing in the mud wallow.
19. What happened when Pathi Harn was born?
The labour for mum Porntip defied every known elephant labour. She experienced intermittent periods of labour over six days and scans showed that the calf was in a position that made birth impossible. Eventually, every sign of life disappeared and even global experts in elephant reproduction had to believe that the calf had died. Where this occurs, a dead foetus can be passed by the mum in anything from weeks to up to a year. However, in an amazing turn of events, two days afterwards, keepers arrived to find Pathi Harn in the elephant paddock. He could not move on one side and it took hours of support and massage to get him upright. He also had no ability to suckle so keepers had to manage his first meals by milking mum and tube feeding him.
20. How does Pathi Harn get along with Luk Chai?
Luk Chai is now a nine month old calf and he has taken quite an interest in the new calf. Pathi Harn has been quite confident in interacting with his older herd-mate and the two have been particularly enjoying mucking around in the mud wallow. Luk Chai has been gentle with the newest addition to the herd.
21. How is mum Porntip?
Even after a very long labour, Porntip is doing great. She is physically very fit and is a wonderful mother, keeping a close eye on Pathi Harn at all times.
