In a delightful turn of events, Howletts Wild Animal Park near Canterbury, Kent, has welcomed a new African elephant calf, marking the first such birth in the UK for 2019.
This unnamed calf, born to 11-year-old Uzuri after a three-hour labor, has brought immense joy to the park’s staff and visitors, symbolizing a heartwarming start to December.
Howletts’ animal director Adrian Harland expressed the team’s excitement, stating, “He’s already finding his place among the herd, and both our team and the elephants are equally delighted.”
Howletts Wild Animal Park, renowned for its successful breeding program, has seen 24 African elephant births since its founding in 1975.
Uzuri, meaning “beauty” in Swahili, was herself born at Howletts in 2008. She is the third calf of her mother, Tammi, who came to the park from Tel Aviv in 1988.
This birth is particularly significant as only 12 African elephant calves have been born in 53 major UK zoos combined since 1975.
Harland added, “Both mother and baby are thriving, receiving abundant care and attention from the entire herd, especially Uzuri’s mother, Tammi. The young one has already begun exploring the elephant yards, and observant visitors may see him outside.”
The Howletts herd lives in an expansive 8.4-acre enclosure, one of the largest in the UK, in the scenic Kent countryside. With the new addition, the herd now comprises 13 members.
African elephant calves typically have a gestation period of about 22 months. After birth, they stay close to their mothers, drinking approximately three gallons of milk daily for the first two years, though some may nurse longer.
Much like human children who suck their thumbs, elephant calves are often seen sucking on their trunks for comfort.
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