Elephant mom gives birth to 265-pound calf after health scare, Arizona zoo says

In November, a pregnant African elephant named Semba was put on 24-hour watch at an Arizona zoo.

Semba, the elephant “matriarch” at the Reid Park Zoo in Tucson, had birthed two babies before without issue. But this time, something was different. Routine screenings had alarmed staff of “potential medical concerns” for the mother and baby, according to the zoo.

Veterinary and animal care teams monitored them through ultrasounds and extra lab work, and were on alert for the final months of Semba’s nearly two-year pregnancy. Elephants have the longest gestation period of any mammal, with the average length for an African elephant pregnancy around 22 months, according to BBC Earth.

“To meet the elephants’ needs, more care, monitoring, and testing took place during this pregnancy than for any of Semba’s older calves,” said Adam Ramsey, director of the zoo’s animal care team.

On March 8, Semba gave birth to a 265-pound calf. The sex of the calf has yet to be determined, the zoo said.

“Mom and baby both look great following this morning’s birth,” Ramsey said.

According to staff, one of the calf’s older siblings is showing a lot of interest in the baby.

The zoo released photos on its website and social media. One shows the baby lying adorably in the sand. Another shows the calf leaning against Semba’s leg.

Next to momma Semba — who weighs 6,960 pounds — the 265-pound infant looks tiny.

“I want to thank the animal care and veterinary teams for the incredible care they provided for Semba and her calf,” Ramsey said.

This story was originally published March 11, 2024 at 2:54 PM with the headline "Elephant mom gives birth to 265-pound calf after health scare, Arizona zoo says."