TARONGA’S ELEPHANT CALF TIPS SCALES AT 106 KG

Zoo Keepers are delighted with the progress Taronga Zoo’s male Asian Elephant calf has made in just 12 days since he was born.

Taronga’s Elephant Manager, Gary Miller, said: “The healthy little animal is way ahead of where anyone thought it would be and has already been in the mud wallow with his aunties.”

“I can’t think of a better expression of welcome to the herd than being hosed with mud by his mum, Thong Dee.”

The young calf has been exploring the Zoo’s Wild Asia exhibit, clambering up dirt mounds, playing with his elephant aunties, enjoying his baths and discovering the delights of wood shavings.

The calf has cooperated in being weighed, with his mother, Thong Dee, at his side and tipped the scales yesterday at 106 kg, up from his birth weight of 96 kg.

Gary said: “He’s showing how quickly he’s learning, already using his trunk to grab the hose during bath time and mimicking eating adult elephant food. He’s starting to use his trunk to pick up pieces of food and transfer them to his mouth, even though he’s not yet even beginning to eat solid foods.”

“At this point he’s getting all his nutrition from Thong Dee in the form of mother’s milk. He’ll soon be drinking up to 12 litres of milk a day.”

The Keepers are pleased with how the calf is being accepted by the other elephants. This is a learning process for all the elephants who have not been around a newborn calf before. Earlier this week, as he struggled to climb over a log in the paddock, he vocalised and all four elephants thundered to his side to reassure and help.

Gary said: “The thing that has impressed us the most is the sheer joy the calf is bringing to our visitors. You can see it in their faces.”

“This little elephant is an ambassador for his species and will inspire people to get involved in supporting elephant conservation and wildlife in general. “

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