New baby elephant to be born at AK

[KevinPage]

**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]

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:

 

[brisem]

What's the name going to be?

 

[Yellow Shoes]

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.

 

[WDWEric]

Keep Us Posted...That is Great news!!!

 

[KevinPage]

bump, due to new info (see original post above) :sohappy: :sohappy:

 

[wannab@dis]

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]

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.

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)

 

[Atta83]

Welcome baby elephant!!!!!!!

 

[careship]

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]

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.

 

[Kwit35]

Welcome to the world Sunshine

 

[Yellow Shoes]

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)

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]

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)

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!

-Kirsten

 

[Irrawaddy Erik]

This quote is from the Toledo Zoo website:

[font=Verdana,]Don't know if these in AK are African or Asian elephants, however.​

​

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

 

[orlpassholder]

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]

 

[xfkirsten]

What a cutie! Thanks a bunch for passing along the photo and the article!!!

-Kirsten

 

[careship]

You can't say anything but......

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

Thanks for the picture my kids loved it!!!!

 

[orlpassholder]

You can't say anything but......

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

Thanks for the picture my kids loved it!!!!

I sent Steve all the other pictures