ORLANDO, Fla. — A star was born Saturday at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando!
For the first time in seven years, an African elephant calf was born at the park.
The calf weighs 218 pounds and is already bonding with her mother Nadirah and bringing a smile to the animal care team, Disney Parks announced in a blog post.
"African elephant births like these are carefully planned through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan," the post reads. "This program helps ensure the responsible breeding of endangered animals in managed care."
While the new elephant is being taken care of backstage, the park says she will soon meet her grandmother and aunt since it's normal for adult females in the herd to help raise young elephants.
When the calf is about 8 years old, she will be considered independent by the herd but will still have a strong family bond, officials say.
"Nadirah became pregnant through natural breeding in early 2022, and she’s received special care from our animal care team for the entirety of her nearly 22-month pregnancy," Disney Parks says. "It takes a team of dedicated cast members to care for a pregnant elephant and eventually, her newborn calf."
The mother and calf will continue to undergo post-natal exams and spend several days together before they join the herd.
To keep track of updates on the park's new baby elephant, click here.
