Baby Elephant Arrives at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo After Nearly Two Year Gestation Period
Posted on October 28, 2011
A baby Asian elephant arrived at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo in London earlier this month after a nearly two year gestation period by his mother, Azizah. The gestation period was 700 days, which is longer than the normal gestation period for an Asian elephant of 22 months. The calf is also the smallest calf ever born at the ZSL Whipsnade Zoo. The zookeepers were initially concerned the calf would not be able to reach his mother's milk, but the baby learned how to get on his tip-toes and has no trouble feeding.
Elephant keeper Lee Sambrook says, "Azizah took to him straightaway and the rest of the herd are so excited to be around the baby and touch it. It is brilliant enrichment because elephants are social animals and having youngsters join the herd is what elephant life is about."
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