JUMBO SURPRISE – Zoo Welcomes Baby Elephant In First-Of-Its-Kind Birth In 20 Years

Delighted zoo staff have welcomed a baby elephant that was the first to be naturally conceived in over two decades at the world’s oldest zoo in Vienna, Austria.

The rare birth was captured by an internal surveillance camera at Schoenbrunn Zoo in the early hours of Wednesday morning, 20th August.

The male calf was born at 4:53am, weighing over 100 kilograms (220 lbs), and is already the elephant cow’s fourth calf.

Births are always a source of concern for the zoo team, but the still nameless youngster appeared healthy from the very beginning.

Zoo Director elephant expert Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck said that the calf was the first one to be naturally conceived at the zoo in over 20 years.

He said: “After long efforts, the joy is immense.”

Within just 10 minutes, the calf was standing on its feet, and a team of scientists was able to collect stem cells from the placenta and umbilical cord for research purposes.

The calf was born in the rear part of the outdoor enclosure, from where the herd could observe the event through visual contact.

The director explained: “A birth is a shared experience that strengthens bonds among elephants.

“Our animals don’t come from a naturally grown family unit as they would in the wild.

“All the more important, then, that such an event reinforces the social structure.”

The zoo, located in the capital Vienna and the oldest one in the world, gives special importance to the conservation of African elephants, as they are among the most endangered animals on Earth.

Over the past 50 years, African elephant numbers have declined by at least 60 percent due to habitat loss, conflicts with humans, and illegal poaching.