COLUMBUS, Ohio – There’s a brand new arrival at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium — a 215-pound Asian elephant calf, born July 23 to first-time mother Sunny.
The baby elephant, not yet named, is bonding privately with her mother and is currently not on public display, according to the zoo’s announcement. Sunny is reportedly adapting well to motherhood, showing “strong maternal instincts” and caring for the calf with attentiveness.
Zoo officials shared the news on Facebook, celebrating the birth as a milestone in their efforts to support endangered elephant populations.
A Big Step for Elephant Conservation
This birth is part of a broader initiative led by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) to combat the “sustainability crisis” surrounding elephants in U.S. zoos. Only a limited number of Asian elephants remain in captivity, and responsible breeding programs are considered critical to the species’ future.
The Columbus Zoo’s elephant care team had been preparing for months, knowing that two of their female elephants — Sunny and Phoebe — were pregnant. Sunny was praised for handling labor “like a champ.”
Meet the Growing Elephant Herd
The newborn brings the Columbus Zoo’s elephant herd to six. Sunny and her new calf now join Johnson, Rudy, and Frankie. The calf’s father, Sabu, resides at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden.
Another baby elephant is expected to join the family this fall when Phoebe gives birth, further strengthening the zoo’s contribution to elephant sustainability efforts. You can learn more about the AZA’s strategy in their recent overview.
While the public can’t yet visit the calf in person, zoo officials noted the baby already has “a sizable fan base” as she learns to walk and use her trunk behind the scenes.
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