New baby elephant to be born at AK

KevinPage

KevinPage

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
**Baby elephant born at AK, 238 lbs**

She was born last night (July 6th)...238 lbs. Her name is Kianga, which means
'Sunshine'. She and Vasha (Mom) are doing fine. Kianga is full of spunk
and is nursing very well.

No photos yet, if I get them, I'll post 'em
 
Shaman

Shaman

Well-Known Member
This is great news...for something so rare to happen more than once...it shows the excellent care and attention given to the animals at AK...

:sohappy:
 
Yellow Shoes

Yellow Shoes

Well-Known Member
I hope all goes well. I read an article about 3 months ago about the difficulty of breeding elephants in captivity.

Apparently the pregnancies go well, but the babies often die within a few months, usually from infections.
 
wannab@dis

wannab@dis

Well-Known Member
Congrats to Vasha and also to the AK professionals and CM's! This goes to show their skills and love of the animals and park.
 
joel_maxwell

joel_maxwell

Permanent Resident of EPCOT
Yellow Shoes said:
I hope all goes well. I read an article about 3 months ago about the difficulty of breeding elephants in captivity.

Apparently the pregnancies go well, but the babies often die within a few months, usually from infections.
Click to expand...

isnt that amazing that they can be born under a controled environment and they can get infections and die. are the infections uncontrolable or are they from neglect (not cleaning and stuff)
 
careship

careship

New Member
We are so thrilled here for the new baby. We were excited last year when the new baby was out on the safari for the first time...still have wonderful pictures of that....wonders how long it will be before this one is let out to roam. I can't remember how long it was last time.

My boys asked if we can bake a cake and celebrate.....LOL....anything for a dose of sugar huh?
 
Irrawaddy Erik

Irrawaddy Erik

Well-Known Member
Well Safaris was all abuzz with the news yesterday and everyone is very excited today. Looks like Tufani will have a playmate. No word when Kianga will be on show. It will probably be a while. I will keep everyone updated if I hear anything.


:sohappy:

EDIT: News 13 is running the story every now and then so if your in the area turn it on to see her.
 
Yellow Shoes

Yellow Shoes

Well-Known Member
jmaxwell007 said:
isnt that amazing that they can be born under a controled environment and they can get infections and die. are the infections uncontrolable or are they from neglect (not cleaning and stuff)
Click to expand...
This quote is from the Toledo Zoo website:
[font=Verdana,]Approximately 50% of captive-born African elephant calves die before they reach age one due to stillbirth, weakness, disease, or maternal rejection or attack. [/font]​
​
Elepahnt breeding is by no means easy, and doesn't "just happen" like it does with smaller mammals (gerbils, dogs, etc.). You should assume that if they're taking the time to monitor the females, then introduce them to the males, (or even to go the AI route), that they would do everything possible to insure that the babies are well taken care of.​
​
Don't know if these in AK are African or Asian elephants, however.​
​
 
xfkirsten

xfkirsten

New Member
jmaxwell007 said:
isnt that amazing that they can be born under a controled environment and they can get infections and die. are the infections uncontrolable or are they from neglect (not cleaning and stuff)
Click to expand...

When infections like that happen, you can bet they are uncontrollable. Having worked in exotic animal care, I can tell you that "not cleaning and stuff" is NOT common in zoos. The ones that make the news as being bad aree the exception, not the rule. Also, I haven't seen any numbers that I can recall, but I'd assume infant mortality rate is probably high in the wild a well - survival rates tend to be higher in zoos, since there is high quality medical care, no predators, constant food supply, etc.

Congrats to Vasha and Kianga!!!! And best of luck! :D

-Kirsten
 
Irrawaddy Erik

Irrawaddy Erik

Well-Known Member
Yellow Shoes said:
This quote is from the Toledo Zoo website:
[font=Verdana,]Don't know if these in AK are African or Asian elephants, however.​

​
Click to expand...


They are African Elephants.....What else would be on the Harambe Wildlife Reserve. :animwink:
 
orlpassholder

orlpassholder

New Member
Second baby elephant born at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Greetings all from the Geek Labs

Eyes and Ears article from today plus photo

Another miracle at Disney's Animal Kingdom took place on July 6, when a female elephant, Kianga (Swahili for "sunshine"), was born at the elephant backstage habitat at 7 p.m.

Successful African elephant births, both in zoological institutions and in the wild, are rare. Of 13 African elephant births in North American institutions since 1983, only five survived. Tufani, the first elephant born at Disney's Animal Kingdom last year, is one of the success stories.

Kianga weighs 230 pounds and, according to the Disney's Animal Kingdom team, is nursing from her mother and appears well.
 
orlpassholder

orlpassholder

New Member
1080Kianga30721.jpg
 

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