The African Lion can run up to 60km/hr and leap up to 12 metres. To conserve their energy, they often sleep up to 22 hours a day.
Taronga Congratulates Melbourne Zoo On Elephant Birth
16 January 2010
Taronga Conservation Society Australia is delighted to congratulate Melbourne Zoo on the successful arrival of Australia’s second Asian Elephant calf overnight.
Taronga CEO Cameron Kerr said: “After a 22 month pregnancy, we’re very pleased for Melbourne Zoo with the successful birth of their first calf. The little female was born overnight to mother Dokkoon and is reportedly doing well.
“This result is another triumph for the zoo-based regional conservation breeding program for this species, which is endangered in the wild.”
Melbourne Zoo together with Taronga Zoo brought seven females and a male elephant from work camps in Thailand to start the regional breeding program in 2006. Through a combination of world-class elephant expert staff and excellent facilities, the program has been a great success.
Taronga’s first calf was born in July 2009, named Luk Chai, and a further three elephants are pregnant across both zoos. The next due will be to the matriarch of Taronga Zoo’s herd, eighteen year old Porntip, expected in coming months.
Asian Elephant populations are under heavy pressure in the wild through loss of habitat and conflict with humans. It’s estimated there are as few as 34,000 left in fragmented remnant forests. Managed breeding programs create genetically healthy insurance populations against the possibility of further collapse of wild populations.
Mr Kerr said: “The birth of any animal of an endangered species is always a remarkable and joyous event.”
