Houston Zoo Welcomes Adorable Baby Elephant
The Houston Zoo is celebrating the birth of a cute baby elephant weighing about 284 pounds! Tupelo, a 10-year-old Asian elephant, gave birth to a girl calf. According to the zoo, both mother and kid are in good health.
“Our animal team is happy that the delivery has gone smoothly,” said Lisa Marie Avendano, vice president of animal operations at the Houston Zoo. “We look forward to continuing to watch Tupelo and her baby connect and presenting her to Houston.”
According to a Twitter post, the newborn elephant would need to connect with his mother for a few days before being ready to join the rest of the herd.
The elephant team will observe and wait for the mother and kid to share important moments throughout the bonding phase. During this bonding time, it is essential for both the mother and the infant to be stress-free.
“Winnie’s birth is vital to the entire Asian elephant population, not just the Zoo,” Daryl Hoffman, Curator of Large Mammals, told The Koala. With 96 elephants perishing every day as a result of poaching and human-elephant conflict, and an AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) population that is far from self-sustaining, every elephant birth is critical.”
Adding further, “The fact that this is a second-generation birth at the Houston Zoo makes Winnie very special in continuing our goal to maintain a multi-generational family group of elephants.”
In the McNair Asian Elephant Habitat Cow Barn, Tupelo gave birth. Fortunately, the zookeepers kept an eye on her at all times.
The adorable young elephant has been given the name ‘Winnie’ by zoo staff. On March 16, the newborn took her first steps outside with the rest of the herd. The footage was shared on Twitter by the Houston Zoo.
Tupelo’s pregnancy was achieved by artificial insemination because she is connected to all of the zoo’s male elephants. With the addition of Winnie, the Houston Zoo now has five males and seven females.
Furthermore, the Houston Zoo contributes significantly to the conservation of young elephants and their families in the wild. A percentage of each entry charge and membership dues at the Zoo is donated to the protection of Asia’s wild elephants.
On their website, you may read more about the Houston Zoo’s offerings and even book a visit. Check out the Houston Zoo’s Facebook and Twitter sites for more information about Winnie and other creatures like her!