The Zoo's elephant family. Photograph courtesy of the St. Louis Zoo.
The brood of elephants on River’s Edge at the Saint Louis Zoo is about to expand. Ellie, a 41-year-old Asian elephant and Saint Louis Zoo resident since 2001, is expecting.
“We are really excited to announce that Ellie is pregnant,” says Martha Fischer, curator of mammals/ungulates at the zoo. “The calf is most likely female, so that’s also exciting news.”
Elephant pregnancies last anywhere from 20 to 22 months—the longest gestation period of any land animal.
“It’s almost two years,” says Fischer. “Women always gasp at that.”
Ellie’s due date is sometime next spring, ranging anytime from February to April 2013. At birth, her daughter is expected to tip the scales at around 250-350 pounds.
Throughout her pregnancy, Ellie will be monitored closely by the zoo staff to track her health and progress. Trainers will modify her exercise program to physically prepare the expectant mother for a rigorous labor. Her diet will remain constant up until the birth, at which point it will be increased to support lactation.
The father is 19-year-old Raja, who was the first elephant born at the zoo back in 1992. The unborn calf will be his fourth offspring.
The match was recommended by a Species Survival Plan (SSP) under the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The Saint Louis Zoo participates in several SSPs with other zoos across North American to coordinate responsible breeding of various species.
“In addition to the conservation efforts we do here, the zoo is also supporting quite a bit of conservation in Asia,” says Fischer. “It’s another arm for our holistic approach to the conservation of Asian elephants. We’re coming at it from both directions.”
According to Fischer, the Asian elephant is critically endangered, with only an estimated 35,000-50,000 left in the wild.
“A typical St. Louisan at a Cardinals game might be there with around 50,000 people,” she says. “That gives you an idea.”
Along with the usual excitement surrounding an impending birth, therefore, Ellie’s pregnancy also brings continued optimism for the survival of her species.
For now, zoo staff and the rest of the elephant herd are simply watching and waiting. Visitors to the zoo will be able to see the pregnant Ellie up until labor begins, at which point she will be removed to a private area to give birth. Assuming all goes well, mother and baby will be back with the herd shortly after.
“It’s just wonderful to watch how much these elephants enjoy their family roles,” says Fischer. “Ellie’s a fantastic mother, so we’re all excited for this.”
