Wichita Zoo Drops a Huge Pregnancy Announcement About Their Female Elephants
There's just something about baby elephants that always makes me a bit weepy. Blame it on Dumbo, blame it on how lovingly elephant moms care for their offspring, blame it on how other female elephants care for a baby in the heard, but I will always find elephants such special creatures. If you are anything like me, you better grab those tissues because the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, Kansas has some pretty beautiful news.
Five of their six female elephants are pregnant.
The zoo shared the news on Facebook and posted, in part, "Leading the expecting mothers is Simunye, whose nurturing presence will be invaluable. Talia, Xolani, Arusi, and Zuberi will each be experiencing motherhood for the first time, adding to the anticipation and joy within the Zoo community. The first birth is expected in early spring 2025.
The dedicated elephant care team prioritizes the well-being of the herd throughout their entire lives, and that’s especially true during pregnancy. They provide comprehensive care, including monitoring body condition, hormones, vitamin and mineral intake, and routine blood work to ensure optimal health at this crucial time."
Related: Baby Elephant at Disney's Animal Kingdom Enjoys Her First Day on the Savannah
The zoo's other elephant, named Stephanie, is past reproductive age.
This is such wonderful news. Even though the first babies won't arrive until 2025 it's still so exciting, especially for African elephant conservation.
I can't wait to see these babies when they are born! I'm not the only one, because one well-wisher posted on Facebook, "WOW! This is amazing and exciting news!! Congratulations! I can't wait for those babies."
Facts About Elephant Pregnancies
If you've ever been pregnant, you probably feel like it goes on forever, especially when you're in the months of your third trimester. Well, be happy you're not an elephant, because they have one of the longest gestation periods of any land mammal with a pregnancy lasting almost two whole years!
Female elephants usually give birth for the first time when they are between 12 and 16 years old. They continue to reproduce until they are around 50 years old, although fertility declines with age. Which is why Stephanie isn't able to be pregnant anymore.
One amazing thing about elephants, is it takes a village to raise a mama and during pregnancy and after giving birth, female elephants receive support and assistance from other members of their herd. Other females, known as "allomothers," may help care for the newborn calf and provide protection.
One very nice aspect of elephant pregnancies is that lady elephants take a few years off between births, to give them time to raise their calf and rest before they get pregnant again.
We can't wait to see these baby elephants take their first steps. Congratulations to the Sedgwick Zoo!
If you would like to visit the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, Kansas, you can find directions, special events, admission prices and zoo hours at their website here.
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