In a charming moment captured at a Thai elephant sanctuary, a young elephant enthusiastically approached a visitor for a cuddle, offering a playful interaction that delighted everyone watching The video shows a woman seated on the muddy ground when, unexpectedly, a baby elephant bounds over, eager to make her acquaintance. The audience can’t help but laugh as the calf cozily settles on her lap. A bystander comments that the woman seems to be enjoying the unusual encounter. However, the calf’s boundless energy keeps it moving around, occasionally shifting in ways that look a little uncomfortable for the woman. She smiles and strokes the baby elephant as it readjusts onto her thighs, embracing the affectionate moment. But when the calf rolls backward onto her shins, she lets out a soft “ow,” prompting a nearby person to step in and lend a hand. Unperturbed, the little elephant soon rolls f...
Asian Elephant at Chester Zoo Surprises Keepers by Giving Birth to a Healthy Calf Months After Believed Loss
A remarkable event unfolded at Chester Zoo on Thursday when an Asian elephant gave birth, surprising keepers who thought she had lost the baby months earlier.
The baby boy was born to 35-year-old Thi Hi Way, the herd’s matriarch and
an experienced mother.
This newborn is Thi’s seventh calf, arriving after a 25-month pregnancy. Keepers believed Thi had started to naturally resorb the calf, as hormone tracking had indicated she was due three months ago. Her weight slowly returned to normal, leading them to assume the pregnancy had ended.
However, Thi delivered a healthy baby boy despite these unusual circumstances. Both mother and calf, who have yet to be named, are reportedly doing very well.
Mike Jordan, the Zoo’s Collections Director, expressed the team’s amazement: “This is an incredible matriarch and a very experienced mother. While this was her seventh birth, the situation was truly astonishing. Her hormone levels and behavior made us think she was resorbing the calf. But nature has a way of surprising us, and finding the newborn up, suckling, and bonding with the herd was magnificent.”
Asian elephants are currently listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List, facing threats from habitat loss, poaching, and human conflict.
Chester Zoo’s breeding program plays a vital role in sustaining the elephant population in Europe, and the arrival of this unexpected calf is seen as a significant boost to their conservation efforts.
Tim Rowlands, Curator of Mammals at Chester Zoo, described the birth as “magical,” noting how it brings the entire elephant family closer.
“These births unite the herd, and we expect the younger calves, Indali and Aayu, to be very curious about the new arrival in the coming days and weeks,” Rowlands said.
“This is also important for Asian elephants globally. They are critically endangered in the wild, and our work combining breeding successes with field projects is helping protect their future.”
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For over a decade, Chester Zoo has partnered with conservationists in India to protect wild Asian elephants.
Their project in Assam, northern India, has successfully reduced conflict between local communities and the elephant population, offering a model for future conservation efforts.
Additionally, scientists at the zoo are working to develop a vaccine for elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus, a deadly disease affecting Asian elephants, though no cure currently exists.
Chester Zoo continues to be at the forefront of elephant conservation, making strides in breeding and research to secure the future of this magnificent species.
Read more Elephant News.
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