By: Maria Consbruck, Reporter
OMAHA, Neb. – The population for elephants is aging. The African Elephant Status Report 2016 estimated a population of about 415,000 for both African Savanna and African Forest Elephants combined and reported a decline of approximately 111,000 elephants since 2006.
Dr. Laura Kleinschmidt, associate Veterinarian, said in order to save them and their genetics the Henry Doorly Zoo wanted to start a new genetic pool using this herd.
“We’re seeing that with these young healthy ladies that they can really contribute and perpetuate the population and make it more sustainable so that we can continue to have elephants for future generations to come,” she said.
The newest editions to the zoo family are two elephant calves, Sonny and Eugenia, the first and only African elephants born at the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium.
They can be seen playing and rolling around the Elephant Family Quarters enjoying their new surroundings.
Both calves are healthy and have a curious personality when exploring what they now get to call home. Eugenia is nine and a half weeks old and weighs 238 pounds while, Sonny, is six and a half weeks old and weighs 292 pounds.
Sarah Armstrong, elephant manager, said it is important to track the weight of the calves in order to assure they are growing and watching for how often the calves are nursing is another thing she tracks.
“Aside from those things, moms have done all the work for taking care of the calves, so we’re just watching, is the calf bright and alert, is it playful, is mom caring for it, all of those things and for the most part that is what we’ve seen,” she said.
The babies mothers, Kiki and Claire, were part of a herd brought to the zoo eight years ago from Swaziland in an effort to improve elephant sustainability. In 2019, Callee was brought to the zoo from the Birmingham Zoo in hopes of breeding. He has been successful and is the father of the elephant calves.
Dennis Pate, president and CEO of the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, said having two elephant calves and with a third elephant calf on its way is important.
“When we made the case to bring these elephants, part of the case was to improve sustainability. And that was seven or eight years ago,” he said, “And here we are today saying we’re living up to that promise that we’re going to be major player and contributing to sustainability of elephants and so that your grandkids will still be able to see an elephant like you can see here.”
Ten-year-old elephant, Lolly, is due in about a year expecting a third elephant calf and alongside Kiki and Claire will help contribute to this sustainability.
Reserved tickets are needed to visit Sonny, Eugenia and the rest of the herd at the Elephant Family Quarters.
