ZooBorns

Whipsnade's Newest Water Baby

Remember the pint-sized pachyderm we brought you video of at the UK's Whipsnade Zoo? Now just a couple of weeks old, the little elephant is learning about bath time with the help of Whipsnade keepers.

Pint-Sized Pachyderm

A tiny elephant standing just 3ft high is the latest addition to the herd at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo. The pint-sized pachyderm was born to mum Kaylee, 27, weighing in at a healthy 277 lbs. Adult elephants can weigh over 11200 lbs!

Learning from a Baby Elephant

Staff at the Oregon Zoo have teamed up with conservation biologists at the University of Portland to study "baby" elephant Samudra, who was born around this time last year. The research is behavioral, tracking the growing boy's habits throughout the day and analyzing how those habits change over the course of his first year. The results will be shared with other zoos to help ensure successful births and rearing. Learn more below the fold.

Hogle Zoo's Elephant Calf Needs a Name

Known only as "baby" for now, the Hogle Zoo's elephant calf, born August 10th, is on debut and needs your help picking out a name. Here she is mud-bathing and romping with Mom.

Enjoy these videos from just days ago, before her public debut. 

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Albuquerque's Got a Trunk Full of Fun

Rozie, Albuquerque's Rio Grande Zoo's newest elephant Mom, gave birth on Wednesday to a 318-pound Calf.  The calf, as yet to be named, is busy bonding with her family and learning the lay of the land. 16-year-old mother Rozie is the last female elephant to have been born at the Rio Grande Zoo, so this newest addition is likely to be a permanent fixture there.

Up Close and Personal with an Elephant Calf

Last week we featured an adorable video of the ZSL Whipsnade Zoo's newest baby elephant calf enjoying her first shower. Today photographer Caroline Broad shares some wonderful photos she took of the little girl on August 16th.

Baby Elephant Shower Time

Watch a tiny elephant calf enjoying her first wash at the ZSL Whipsnade Zoo in the UK earlier this week.

Beco Plays Ball

Back in March we brought you pictures of the Columbus Zoo's newborn elephant calf, Beco, as he took his wobbly first steps. Now a toddler at 690 lbs, the zoo has shared some outstanding footage of Beco romping with his favorite toy, a very big, and very durable, blue rubber ball. Enjoy the video!

 

Photo and video credits: Grahm Jones / Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

A Healthy 251 lb Baby!

After 22 months of pregnancy, mother elephant Christie gave birth to a high-spirited female calf weighing in at 251 lbs or 114 kg at Utah's Hogle Zoo. According to the Zoo's Elephant Manager, Doug Tomkinson, the birth went remarkably quickly and easily. Part of the AZA's Species Survival Plan for African Elephants, this birth contributes to the sustainable population of this species in North America.

Splish Splash, Luk Chai in the Bath

While mum Thong Dee and aunty Tang Mo take turns getting showers and scrub downs by keepers in the enclosure next door, the Taronga Zoo's baby elephant is playing happily in his own "little" bath tub which was cut down from a big plastic tank. Recently named Luk Chai, the youngster has bath toys too, albeit slightly larger than your average yellow ducky!

Many more pics beneath...