Dublin Zoo shared the news of the latest addition to their Asian elephant herd today. His arrival was “greeted with celebratory trumpeting”.
Mam and baby are doing well. Proud mammy Yasmin gave birth to the healthy male calf on Monday afternoon (15th May) after a 22-month gestation period. The calf is estimated to be 1 metre tall and weighs approximately 130kg.
This new arrival is Yasmin’s fourth calf and the sixth elephant calf born at Dublin Zoo in less than three years. The new-born will join the herd of 10 Asian elephants, including father Upali, in the Kaziranga Forest Trail.
The new baby has yet to be given a name. Dublin Zoo is looking for help naming their newest member. If you’ve any suggestions send them to www.DublinZoo.ie
The Dublin Zoo team are delighted with the new baby boy. Operations Manager at Dublin Zoo, Gerry Creighton said, “It is with immense pride that we announce the birth of the latest addition to the Asian elephant herd here at Dublin Zoo.
This latest birth is a significant success for Dublin Zoo as part of the international breeding programme established to assist the survival of the Asian elephant. It is estimated that only 30,000 to 60,000 of these animals exist in the wild.
“We’ve been on an incredible journey over the past three years, overseeing the birth of six elephant calves, placing Dublin Zoo as one the most successful Asian elephant breeding programmes in the world. The recent births are of huge significance for the future of the endangered Asian elephant.”
To see the new arrival, visit the Kaziranga Forest Trail in Dublin Zoo. Dublin Zoo, a not for profit organisation, is open seven days a week from 9.30am to 6pm from March to September.
For further information on Dublin Zoo visit www.facebook.com/dublinzoo, www.dublinzoo.ie.
