Melbourne Zoo announces birth of baby elephant

Melbourne Zoo has welcomed its first-ever naturally conceived elephant calf. Following a 22-month pregnancy, mother Dokkoon gave birth while surrounded by the zoo's tightly knit crew of female Asian Elephants.

The calf is the first of three expected to be born by early 2023, with mothers Num Oi and Mali also pregnant. These simultaneous pregnancies mean that the calves will be raised by the entire herd, offering huge benefits for herd cohesion and social development.

Erin Gardiner, the life science manager of the Melbourne Zoo Trail of Elephants shares "It's such a joy to welcome this beautiful elephant calf to our herd and to witness its first interactions.”

Visitors may have to wait for a few weeks or even months before mum and calf will be visible to the public with Gardiner noting "we are giving mother and calf all the quiet time and space they need to bond and develop their relationship with one another and the herd.”

In 2024, the entire Asian Elephant herd will be moved from Melbourne Zoo to Werribee Open Range Zoo following the completion of an $88-million-dollar expansion funded by the Victorian government.