Staff at Whipsnade Zoo have described the arrival of the rare endangered guest as a “huge success”.
First Published Aug 25, 2022, 11:12 AM IST
Britain: A rare guest was born yesterday at Whipsnade Zoo near Dunstable in Bedfordshire, England. The baby was born to an Asian elephant named Donna. Staff at Whipsnade Zoo have described the arrival of the rare endangered guest as a “huge success”.
Whipsnade Zoo is a combination zoo and safari park. It is one of two zoos owned by the Zoological Society of London, which was founded to protect animals and their habitats worldwide. Another is the London Zoo in Regent’s Park, London.
No name has been given to the new guest. Officials said she, her mother, Donna, and her friends are doing well at the zoo. “To say we are delighted with the arrival of this baby elephant is a huge understatement. Having a baby Asian elephant is a very important addition to the endangered species breeding program across Europe.” Mark Howes, deputy team leader for elephant affairs at the zoo, said:
In a video shared by the zoo officials on their social media page, the baby elephant can be seen taking its first steps and reaching for breast milk within hours of its birth. In the video, the mother wraps her torso around the baby to prevent her daughter from falling as she lifts her leg to take her first step. Eventually she makes an effort to sleep away.
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Last Updated Aug 25, 2022, 11:12 AM IST
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