FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ/KFSN) — The Fresno Chaffee Zoo is celebrating another bundle of joy in the elephant enclosure.
A second African elephant calf is now part of the herd.
Mother, Amahle gave birth early Monday morning.
Zoo keepers say both mom and baby are doing well and will continue to be monitored.
This news comes after the zoo’s first ever elephant calf was born on August 16 to mother Nolwalzi.
Both babies will stay behind the scenes for now until they are ready for a future public debut.
Breeding & Growth
Gestation is 22 months, and the single calf is very small, seldom over 200 pounds. The cow will move a short way away from the herd to deliver and the calf must stand within minutes of birth. They must quickly rejoin the herd. The new calf will suckle within the hour but will take days to ‘gain control’ over its trunk. The development of an elephant over its life can be compared to that of humans. A teenager is a teenager, and wisdom lies with the elderly. Elephant societies are matriarchal, the oldest (most knowledgeable) females leading the extended family groups.
