It's a boy! Dublin Zoo announce birth of male Asian elephant calf
Dublin Zoo needs you! Suggest a name for the new arrival at DublinZoo.ie
Dublin Zoo has announced the birth of a male Asian elephant calf.
Yasmin gave birth to the healthy calf on Monday afternoon (15 May) after a 22-month gestation period.
The calf is estimated to be 1 metre tall and weighs approximately 130kg.
This new arrival is Yasmin’s fourth calf and the sixth elephant calf born at Dublin Zoo in less than three years.
The newborn will join the herd of 10 Asian elephants, including father Upali, in the Kaziranga Forest Trail.
The arrival of the new calf was a special moment for the entire Dublin Zoo team.
Gerry Creighton, operations manager at Dublin Zoo, said: “It is with immense pride that we announce the birth of the latest addition to the Asian elephant herd here at Dublin Zoo.
“The birth of an Asian elephant is an amazing spectacle and this was no exception. The arrival of the calf was greeted with celebratory trumpeting and each member of the herd, from the oldest to youngest, played a role in assisting with the birth.
“We’ve been on an incredible journey over the last three years, overseeing the birth of six elephant calves, placing Dublin Zoo as one the most successful Asian elephant breeding programmes in the world.
“The recent births are of huge significance for the future of the endangered Asian elephant.
“We’re proud of the expanding herd and seeing the 11 elephants together will be a wonderful sight for visitors to the zoo over the summer.
“The new calf needs a name, so we would like to invite the public to suggest names for the newest arrival based on his Asian origin at DublinZoo.ie.”
This latest birth is a significant success for Dublin Zoo as part of the international breeding programme established to assist the survival of the Asian elephant.
It is estimated that only 30,000 to 60,000 of these animals exist in the wild, and the largest population is in India.
To see the new arrival, visit the Kaziranga Forest Trail in Dublin Zoo.
Dublin Zoo, a not for profit organisation, is open seven days a week, 9.30am-6pm, March to September.