Overview
- Phoebe, a 38-year-old Asian elephant, delivered a 222-pound male calf late Oct. 21, and both are reported to be doing well.
- It is the zoo’s first instance of two elephant calves born in a single calendar year, following Sunny’s July birth of female calf Rita Jean.
- Mother and newborn remain off public view for uninterrupted bonding as staff provide round-the-clock monitoring and begin careful herd introductions.
- The calf’s father is Sabu from the Cincinnati Zoo, with the pairing recommended by the AZA Species Survival Plan to support genetic diversity.
- Asian elephants are endangered with populations reported to have declined by about 50% over three generations, and the zoo will share viewing and naming updates as the calf reaches milestones.