..D.R. Miller..

Baby Elephants Arriving at the Bronx Zoo 1946

....Baby elephants being transported to the Bronx Zoo....


Ship's crewman feeding jam to baby elephant....


....Baby elephant arriving at Bronx Zoo with ears billowing in the air....


....Baby scratching after 5 weeks confinement on ship....


....Baby settling into his new home....


....Baby arriving at new zoo home....


....Baby eating first meal in new home at the Bronx zoo....

Ringling Blue Unit..Madison Square Garden..

....From Mike Naughton....

Baby girl elephant born to Ringling Bros.

VIENNA , Va., Nov. 18 (UPI) -- The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation Tuesday announced the birth of a healthy female Asian elephant.

This marks the 21st birth in what Ringling Bros. describes as "the most successful Asian elephant breeding program in the Western Hemisphere."

Baby Sundara, which means "beautiful" in Hindi, was born Nov. 9 and weighed in at 310 pounds. She is the offspring of 39-year-old Sally and 35-year-old Charlie.

Sally has given birth before as part of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey breeding program. Sundara has four other siblings, two of which were born at the Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation. Kelly Ann, 12, and Rudy, 6, are both touring with "The Greatest Show on Earth" circus.

"There are fewer than 35,000 Asian elephants remaining in the world and these magnificent animals are struggling to survive so each elephant born at Ringling Bros. is a celebratory step toward the preservation of the species," Kenneth Feld, founder of Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation, said in a statement. "Since 1992, 21 elephants have been born into Ringling Bros. care and that is a lifetime commitment that we take very seriously."

Name The Elephant!

Oregon Zoo Offers 5 Names, You Vote Online
By Brooks Burford
Friday, September 5, 2008
The Oregon Zoo's baby elephant needs a name. Oregon Zoo elephant keepers are asking the public to help them choose a name for the 2-week-old elephant calf. Keepers have come up with five names and are asking people to vote for their favorite on the zoo's Web site: www.oregonzoo.org.
"The community's outpouring of love and support for the zoo and our newest resident has been very gratifying," said Mike Keele, the zoo's deputy director. "We've had to take things very slowly to ensure that Rose-Tu and her calf are completely bonded and comfortable with the rest of the herd. Now we are ready to move onto the next step, and that is giving the calf a name that suits his personality."


Keepers are considering the following five names:

1. Amul: Hindi for "priceless, of inestimable worth."

2. Bao: Chinese for "precious treasure."

3. Duc (rhymes with hook or look): Vietnamese for "good, moral, desire."

(Also is a portion of former Trail Blazer Kevin Duckworth's name, honoring the late basketball player.)
4. Hugo-Tu: This name honors the baby's mother, Rose-Tu, and maternal grandfather, Hugo. Hugo comes from the Germanic word for "mind, heart or spirit" and Tu is Vietnamese for "tree."

5. Samudra (nickname Sam): Hindi for "lord of the ocean." (The calf loves his baths!)


Votes will be accepted through Thursday, Sept. 11, at 5 p.m. The zoo will announce the winning name on Friday, Sept. 12.


The Asian elephant calf, born Aug. 23 at 3:56 p.m. at the zoo, had a rough start to life when Rose-Tu became confused after giving birth and nearly trampled him. Elephant keepers quickly intervened and were able to prevent the new mother from causing any harm to her baby. Keele believes Rose-Tu became confused because she had never seen a birth before. Until the new baby's arrival, she herself had been the last elephant born at the zoo.


Rose-Tu, born Aug. 31, 1994, is a popular elephant within the herd and with her keepers. She is always looking to tease her herd mates and shares a strong friendship with Chendra, who is nearly the same age. Rose-Tu is the second smallest elephant in the herd, weighing about 7,600 pounds. She conceived in late 2006.


The Oregon Zoo has a renowned breeding program for endangered Asian elephants. More than 25 elephants have been born at the zoo, beginning with Packy in 1962. The new calf is the first third-generation elephant to be born in the United States.


As the infant grows older, father Tusko -- a 13,500-pound, 36-year-old Asian elephant -- will be introduced and allowed to interact with him, as well.


Tusko arrived at the zoo in June 2005 on a breeding loan. He has successfully sired three calves in the past -- two while living in Canada and one in California.

....Bonding....

Elephant Birth at the Portland Zoo....

Episodes of Super Circus

http://www.archive.org/details.php?identifier=1954circus&newflash=1

http://www.archive.org/details/Super-Circus_1956


Super Circus" was a popular 50's kids show featuring typical acts that perform at a circus. It featured 3 clowns who added comic relief to the show. This episode contains a Trapeze act, A trainer with a Leopard, and some elephants doing tricks. Also, This episode contains the original commercials

NEWS ON ZOO'S PREGNANT PACHYDERM: IT'S A GIRL!

....Rose-Tu enjoying a dip at the Oregon Zoo....



PORTLAND, Ore. -- In just a couple of months, Rose- Tu, the Oregon Zoo's pregnant Asian elephant, will be having a baby girl. Probably.

"We're pretty confident it's going to be a girl," said Mitch Finnegan, the zoo's lead veterinarian, "although I'm still not putting any money on it."

The announcement came following analyses of hormone levels in Rose- Tu's blood. Typically, Finnegan says, testosterone levels would be higher if the baby were going to be male. However, he adds, with so few elephants born in captivity, the sample size is fairly small and there is still a bit of room for error.

The much- anticipated addition to the zoo's elephant herd, conceived in late 2006, is due to arrive any time from late August to early October. Tusko, a 13,500- pound, 36- year- old Asian elephant, is the father.

Although Rose- Tu is nearly 20 months pregnant, you'll still need to look closely to spot her "baby bump," Finnegan says. The bulge that some visitors have been noticing is actually "part baby, part breakfast" -- the result of Rose- Tu's abdominal organs shifting to make room for the baby.

"For many wild animals," Finnegan notes, "the signs of pregnancy are a lot less obvious than they are in humans."

In the fall of 2006, Tusko was introduced to Rose- Tu in hopes the two would make a love connection. The zoo monitors the female elephants' ovulatory cycles closely and planned the introduction for the appropriate time.

"We were confident that when we introduced Tusko to the girls, sparks would fly," said zoo Deputy Director Mike Keele, who also serves as the Asian elephant Species Survival Plan coordinator for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. "From what we saw that day, Tusko was a quite the gentleman, a real 'lady's elephant' -- a true Casanova."

Rose- Tu gets along very well with Tusko and seemed receptive to his advances. Her keepers describe Rose- Tu as playful and highly intelligent; they hope she will be a doting mother.

"The birth of a new baby is the most enriching thing that can happen in an elephant herd," said Keele. "If all goes well, and we hope it will, the rest of the herd will tightly bond and protect the baby as if it were their own. There are some risks associated with being a first- time mother, but we're hopeful."

With more than 30 years of zoo experience, Keele is keenly aware that there is a 30 percent infant mortality rate among captive Asian elephants. There is no reliable data on the infant mortality rate in the wild.

"There can be complications to both mother and calf," said Keele. "A calf may be stillborn or get lodged in the birthing canal. We'll be monitoring her pregnancy very closely."

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan for Asian elephants recommended that Rose- Tu be bred with Tusko. The AZA, of which the Oregon Zoo is an accredited member, strives to maintain a sustainable population of the endangered elephants in North America. Currently, birth
rates are lower than necessary to do so. With few bulls and low birth rates -- combined with an aging female population -- the North American elephant population is at of risk becoming extinct.

In the late 1990s, scientists warned zoos that unless a reproductive management program was undertaken, North America was in danger of not sustaining a viable elephant population. Statistics indicate that if females do not become pregnant by the age of 25, their ability to reproduce is
severely diminished.

The Oregon Zoo has a renowned breeding program for endangered Asian elephants. More than 25 elephants have been born at the zoo, beginning with Packy in 1962. From 1994 to 2005, the zoo suspended its breeding program because it lacked the space to house four bull elephants. The zoo could not risk the 50 percent chance of having another male, which would grow up to be a powerful bull elephant with no home to place him.

Rose- Tu, born Aug. 31, 1994, was the last elephant born at the zoo.

Rose- Tu is a popular elephant within the herd and with her keepers. She is always looking to tease her herd mates and shares a strong friendship with Chendra, who is nearly the same age. Rose- Tu is the second smallest elephant in the herd, weighing about 7,600 pounds.

Tusko arrived at the zoo in June 2005 on a breeding loan. He has successfully sired three calves in the past -- two while living in Canada and one in California.

An endangered species, Asian elephants are represented by an estimated 38,000 to 51,000 individuals living in fragmented populations in the wild. Agriculture, deforestation and conflict with humans pose a constant threat to wild Asian elephants.

DOUBLE THE PLEASURE

ZOO WELCOMES SECOND BABY ELEPHANT


The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium’s elephant team is seeing double these days. Moja, the Zoo’s second pregnant elephant, has given birth. The new female calf arrived at 5:30 a.m., July 25, 2008. This is the second baby elephant birth for the Zoo this month. On July 9, Savanna gave birth to a baby girl. “This will certainly be a balancing act with two baby elephants. They will keep us on our toes,” says Willie Theison, Pittsburgh Zoo elephant manager. In addition, Moja set a record for the longest pregnancy on record for an African elephant, being pregnant 688 days. The previous record was 674 days. And, it is not the only record Moja has set. When Victoria, Moja’s first calf, was born in 1999, Moja became the first African elephant born at a U.S. Zoo to give birth at a U.S. Zoo.

“We have so many emotions. We are thrilled, but exhausted all at the same time,” says Dr. Barbara Baker, president and CEO of the Zoo. “It was another incredible birth and a milestone in improving the care and understanding of African elephants.” The first 30 days of
the young elephant’s life are critical. She must first accomplish the important milestone of bonding successfully with her mother and the rest of the herd. Continuing to grow is the next important step

The mortality rate for African elephants in the U.S. has decreased since 2003. Ten years ago it was more than 40 percent, now it is closer to 15 percent. “Advanced technology, such as 4-D ultrasound, and information we learn from each birth is helping tremendously in lowering the mortality rate,” says Dr. Baker. “For instance we now know a key component for a successful birth is exercise. Moja and Savanna have had an exercise routine for the past two years that includes vigorous walks through the Zoo. We were more concerned with Moja’s pregnancy because she was overdue. We were in uncharted territory.”

The new baby girl elephant appears to be doing very well and is bonding with her mother. With the help of her mother, the newborn calf stood up about 20 minutes after she was born. “They are so clumsy at first,” says Theison. “They need to learn to walk and to use their trunks.” Moja’s baby will learn a lot by watching and mimicking her mother and older sister Victoria’s, behavior, as well as other members of the elephant herd. “This will be good experience for Victoria. She has the opportunity to develop her own maternal skills by watching her mother handle the new baby,” says Theison.

Today’s birth is the fourth successful birth of an African elephant at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. Victoria was born to Moja in September of 1999. Callee was born to Savanna in September of 2000. Jackson, the father of all four calves, is one of three breeding bulls in the country. One of the major goals of the Pittsburgh Zoo is to work to ensure the survival of African elephants in North America and ultimately help to protect the species in Africa. There are currently 149 African elephants in 49 Zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and many of them are aging, which emphasizes the need for successful breeding programs.”