We're Pregnant!!!

[ozron]

(Okay, so I'm the last person you'd expect to post THAT thread title.)

The zoo confirmed today that Rose-Tu, our thirteen-year-old, 7,000 pound Asian elephant is pregnant! The Oregon Zoo has long been a leader in elephant breeding, with the most sucessful breeding herd in the country. We haven't had a baby, though, since Rose-Tu, so this is big news.

This was something of a surprise. The father, Tusko, is on breeding loan to us, and was just introduced to the cows last fall. The successful breeding took place in early December, which is a quick courtship for elephants. That puts Rose-Tu at about the tenth month of her pregnancy.

She's due around September or October of next year.

[libraryvixen]

Yay!! Congratulations to Mama Rose-Tu, Baby Daddy Tusko and the zoo family!

[Not Afraid]

I thought for a moment first before opening this thread. "How is this possible?"

However, now I'm humming Baby Elephant Walk, so I'm not sure how happy I am. ;)

Great news!

[tracilicious]

It took them ten months to figure out that she's pregnant?

[Stan4dSteph]

Congratulations. Good thoughts that everything goes well for Rose-Tu and the little one.

[Snowflake]

Baby heffalumps!

:cool:

Well, this is great news! Hope all goes well for Rose-Tu (and the zoo) during her pregnancy.

We (me) will expect pictures eventually.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Awww, baby elephants are soooo cute! :) Awesome news.

[Moonliner]

It took them ten months to figure out that she's pregnant?

Well ya know, elephant sized EPT's are a special order item. Then there is the training time needed to teach her how to use it properly....

[3894]

Awesome news, ozron!

I was lucky enough to see the baby elephant at the National Zoo in D.C. in 2001. You'll be posting pics?

[katiesue]

First thought "geeze he works fast" ;)

Congratulations. I'd love to see photos as well.

[Disneyphile]

Well ya know, elephant sized EPT's are a special order item. Then there is the training time needed to teach her how to use it properly....That's gotta be a big stick. ;)

I love baby animals. This is just awesome! :snap:

But, wow, they have a long gestation period. :eek:

[cirquelover]

Wow, great news! You're even faster than the media. I can't wait to see the baby elephant next year.
I guess I'll have to go by myself though as the boy says elephants are smelly!

[RStar]

So cool!! :snap:

Yes, pictures would be great!!

[ozron]

Note to self....

You have a year to buy a camera....

[scaeagles]

(Okay, so I'm the last person you'd expect to post THAT thread title.)

There are many others here that I would find it perhaps even more shocking....

We're Pregnant!

We're Pregnant!

We're Pregnant!

[Not Afraid]

We're Pregnant!

Miracles do happen. ;)

[ozron]

NEWS FLASH!!!!

Rose-Tu went into labor at about 8:00 this morning. The elephant barn was closed and the doors covered to turn the indoor viewing room into a maternity ward. All of the cows are inside with the expectant mom.

Rose-Tu is expected to deliver within the next 36 hours, although labor could last as long as 4 - 5 days. Once born, the baby will be examined and allowed some bonding time with mom before going on exhibit.

The animal management team is on 24-hour alert. Cots and provisions have been moved into the barn.

Our last baby elephant was Rose-Tu fourteen years ago. She also came just before Labor Day, and was viewable to the public over the holiday weekend.

Our elephants have always had a strong sense of marketing savvy!

[~MS~]

Sending safe delivery vibes Rose's way!!!!! Add me to the we want pictures list!

[lashbear]

Q: Why are baby elepants wrinkled?

A: Ever tried to iron one?


Congrats to Midwife Ron ! :D

[alphabassettgrrl]

How exciting! But seriously, 4-5 *days* in labor??? Wow.

[cirquelover]

Note to self....

You have a year to buy a camera....


So did you get that camera?

Thanks for the update, your faster than the tv newsman!

[ozron]

Rose-Tu delivered a 286-pound baby boy just before 4:00 this afternoon. I wasn't at the zoo at the time, and won't be back until Monday, so I haven't gotten any firsst-hand reports yet.

R-2 was a bit aggressive toward the baby at first, so keepers moved in to separate the two. Examination showed a healthy young bull. Re-introduction will proceed soon.

Pics as soon as I can talk myself into the barn.

ron

[Gn2Dlnd]

And now I have "Baby Elephant Walk" tootling in my head!

[3894]

Rose-Tu delivered a 286-pound baby boy just before 4:00 this afternoon.


Ouch.

Happy Birthday, widdle elephant. Welcome to the spinning world!

[Sohrshah]

Yeay for the new baby elephant!

All this talk about nearly 2-year gestational periods, 4 day labor, and birth to a baby significantly bigger than I am makes my biological clock miss a tick or two!

[Strangler Lewis]

Mazel Tov!

[Not Afraid]

YAY! SUCCESS!

[BarTopDancer]

Babyphant!

[ozron]

Okay, not my photo, but it will do for now.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/news_impact/2008/08/babyeleph.jpg

Baby is healthy and doing well. Keepers are trying to bottle feed while R-2 is still aggressive. They have collected cholosturum from her to give to him.

Interesting note: a standard human breast pump also fits elephants.

[RStar]

How cute!!!

[Kevy Baby]

He still looks a little freaked out. But he is cute.

[blueerica]

Congrats! Hehehe... :) BABY ELEFANTS!

[Stan4dSteph]

Awww. Best wishes for him!

[Snowflake]

Aww baby heffalumps!

Cutie!

[cirquelover]

It's been so sad though watching her try to hurt her baby. I hope it starts to go better with the reintroduction, hearing that little guy cry for his Mom is just heart breaking!

[BarTopDancer]

Can we name him Squirt?

[alphabassettgrrl]

Is it common for elephant moms to be aggressive to their own babies?

He's so cute! How can she want to hurt him?? :)

[ozron]

Is it common for elephant moms to be aggressive to their own babies?

He's so cute! How can she want to hurt him?? :)

Elephants, like many other animals, learn a lot of parenting skills from observing other mothers and helping to care for other calves (babysitting). Unfortunately, Rose-Tu was the last baby born here and has never experienced a birth second-hand. This was one of the big concerns - how she would react to the experience and the baby.

Elephant mothers do usually kick their newborns, to get them breathing, standing and moving around. Rose-Tu went a bit further than that and that's when the staff moved in.

Re-introduction is proceeding. The two have controlled access to each other, and Rose-Tu is being rewarded for nurturing behavior. At this point the baby has successfully nursed, so that's a very good sign. Bottle and tube feeding is also continuing.

Access to the barn is strictly restricted. Most observations are by closed-circuit. I haven't had a chance to talk to any of the staff involved, but they are happy and exhausted!

The zoo was pretty quiet today, considering. We're holding our breath for the day the calf goes on exhibit.

That's when all hell breaks loose for us!

[alphabassettgrrl]

Wow. How exciting to help her learn how to be a mommy! I guess it would be a little frightening, to not know how to do this.

[Moonliner]

Oh! Oh! Video on CNN (http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2008/08/26/pkg.baby.elephant.kgw). Cute!

[Ghoulish Delight]

Haha, I love the giant bags of what appear to be essentially the same type of litter shavings we use for the bunnies. With 2 of them now we may to ping ozron and ask who their supplier for the bulk size bags is.

[Disneyphile]

Oh! Oh! Video on CNN (http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2008/08/26/pkg.baby.elephant.kgw). Cute!That is the saddest sound I've ever heard! Poor baby missing his mama! :(

He is quite adorable though.

[Stan4dSteph]

That is the saddest sound I've ever heard! Poor baby missing his mama! :(Oh my gosh I so agree! :(

[Disneyphile]

Oh my gosh I so agree! :(I was sitting here, shouting at the screen, "Rose-Tu! How could you?!?! Your poor child!!!"

I think the sound of a baby elephant wailing is worse than a screaming bunny. :(

[cirquelover]

They are bonding quite nicely now. Today we were able to see him nursing on Mom with his ears and tail wagging!! It was so cute!

Hearing his little mournful cry for his Mom was heart wrenching. I'm so glad it appears to be all working out for the little guy.

Except now one of the animal rights groups is raising a stink about him being raised in a zoo. Umm, his Mom is in the zoo. I'm afraid the want to set him free like Keiko, cause that worked out so well for them. Don't get me wrong I would have been thrilled if Keiko could have returned to the wild and lived a happy normal life but .....you know.

[Disneyphile]

Except now one of the animal rights groups is raising a stink about him being raised in a zoo. Oh, good grief. If he were captured in the wild and brought to the zoo, I can understand being upset over it. But, this is the life he was born into. Cats and dogs used to be wild at some point too...

[~MS~]

I'm so glad to hear that they are bonding, I know the staff 'could' raise him but it's so much better for him for mom to be there. That video was so sad....poor little guy. Do we know his name yet?

[alphabassettgrrl]

I admire the intent of the animal rights groups, but sometimes they just aren't thinking. You take a baby elephant, born in a zoo, and you just can't release him. Maybe he could be trained to survive, but he needs to belong to a herd, doesn't he? And they likely won't accept him.

Not cool. Keep an eye on him, and if he starts showing stress, find another solution for him but releasing him is unlikely to be a happy solution, sadly. Seems like it'd be great, but there are more variables involved.

Cute baby! I'm glad his momma is warming up to him. I feel bad for him, being separated.

[BarTopDancer]

Note to self. Don't watch video.

More pictures?

[Disneyphile]

Note to self. Don't watch video.It's very cute though - we wiggles his ears and everything. But, then he cries. And cries. And cries.

If you watch it without sound, you'll be fine. ;)

[BarTopDancer]

No, it's ok. I'll wait for pictures of the babyfant.

[ozron]

Rose-Tu and baby are now together with unrestricted contact (still under supervision). As of this evening, the calf is getting 100% of his nourishment from mom!

Naming a baby elephant in Portland is a very public process! Keepers will get to know the calf for a little while before suggesting three or four names. The names will most likely be voted on by the public.

The pair are expected to be available for viewing later in the week.

Animal rights groups are not advocating release for the baby. Their main argument (a debate that has been ongoing for years) is that elephants do not belong in zoos. The size of the typical enclosure is too small and the surfaces the animals stand on are not healthy for an elephant's feet.

At 1.6 acres, our exhibit exeeds AZA standard for our Asian elephant herd. Over the past 20 years, improvements in the types and variety of floor and yard surfaces have markedly improved the herd's foot health, and we have been a leader in research in foot care, hosting the first international symposium on the subject about five years ago.

Nevertheless, the animal rights groups have their own agenda. They want the elephants off exhibit and put in private reserves. Now we have an upcoming bond measure that would expand the elephants' space to around 6 acres, but they will fight it. If we won't use their plan, they will deny us the means to improve what we have. Go figure.

Here's a thought: these groups (except the most radical) rarely target dogs, cats and horses. After all, these animals have been domesticated, bred and trained as working and companion animals for thousands of years. They are no longer suited for lafe in the wild.

The Asian elephant has also been domesticated, bred and trained as a working animal for thousands of years. Percentage wise, only a few exist in the wild. In Asia, they have enjoyed a symbiotic relationship with their mahouts for generations.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Ok. Ron, that's great that you take such good care of your elephants! Lucky pachyderms.

[BarTopDancer]

Naming a baby elephant in Portland is a very public process! Keepers will get to know the calf for a little while before suggesting three or four names. The names will most likely be voted on by the public.

Squirt!

[Disneyphile]

I am an evil woman. I kept mimicking the wailing baby elephant sounds last night to Ken whenever he'd leave the room. It replaced my playful whining that I sometimes spout, and was much more annoying! Of course, this was after he watched the video and agreed that it's the saddest sound he's ever heard. :evil:

[Stan4dSteph]

cirquelover, thanks for the update and eyewitness account.

Ron, awesome news that the little dude is back with mom. I hope you are able to go through with the plans for the new enclosure. Did you ever see that Nature episode on PBS where the two former circus elephants were reunited? It makes me cry every time I see it. Here's some info about it (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/bestofnature/update.html).

[Kevy Baby]

I am an evil woman. I kept mimicking the wailing baby elephant sounds last night to Ken whenever he'd leave the room. It replaced my playful whining that I sometimes spout, and was much more annoying! Of course, this was after he watched the video and agreed that it's the saddest sound he's ever heard. :evil:If you really want to mess with his ego, start making that sound when y'all are gettin' busy.

[BarTopDancer]

I watched the video, with sound and decided that Squirt was just talking to the cameras.

So there.

[Snowflake]

Awww, I just watched the video, how effin cute is he? I'm glad to read "Squirt" and his Rose-Tu are getting along now.

[cirquelover]

Did you ever see that Nature episode on PBS where the two former circus elephants were reunited? It makes me cry every time I see it. Here's some info about it (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/bestofnature/update.html).

I remember that, it was heart warming and sad all in the same breath!


I saw on the news tonight that Rose-tu and her baby are getting along perfectly. They showed a pic of baby sleeping with Mom, it was so cute!

[ozron]

Okay! Staff preview viewing was yesterday. I got to work early to head down to the elephant barn and snap a few pictures:

He had a little trouble finding his legs....
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3093/2810855176_786b8ff964.jpg

but managed to get up and moving.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3267/2810009017_b484a80c35.jpg

Then he promptly flopped down and went to sleep!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3243/2810009307_8448ee8f7c.jpg

Rose-Tu looks so proud!

Behind the two you can see the "howdy gate", used to introduce the other cows to the new baby. It will be slowly altered to allow more access until they are commfortable enough to unite the group. In the first photo you can see Shine peeking through, in the last is Rose-Tu's buddy, Chendra.

[~MS~]

awwwwwww thanks for those Ron, he is so darn cute I can't stand it.

[alphabassettgrrl]

He's so cute!!!! I'm glad he's accepted by his mama.

[BarTopDancer]

Babyphant Squirt is so cute!

[ozron]

The baby is doing very well, as is Rose-Tu! She is starting to take to motherhood very well. The two are together 24 hours now, and she is doing all the things that an elephant mom should.

They have spent a few sessions outside in the elephant's back exhibit yard, under very controlled conditions, and have met at least one of the other cows. Shine showed very little interest in the calf, staying on the other side of the yard most of the time.

The keepers have suggested names, and now the public has the opportunity to vote on them: http://www.oregonzoo.org/Voter/vote_form.cfm

Bao, Duc, Hugo-Tu, and Samutra. Hugo-Tu is another homage to Hugo, who we lost last year, and the baby's mother and grandmother, Me-Tu. I really don't like the idea of -Tu becoming a surname for our elephants.

I get the feeling the keepers like the last name, simply so they can just call him Sam.

Of course, they already have some names for him, but none that you would ask the public to vote for!

[Disneyphile]

I voted for Samudra. I like the meaning behind it. :)

[BarTopDancer]

I like Squirt.

[cirquelover]

The news is saying that people are voting for Duc because it would be a good homage to Duckworth who just passed away unexpectedly. I like Bao.

[cirquelover]

And the winning name is










Samudra!

[Disneyphile]

Yay!!!! :D

[~MS~]

OH cool! Baby Sam is adorable.