Baby elephant at Taronga Zoo charms on second day in the world
HE took two years to get here and 35 minutes to pop out. And he weighed in at 130kg before he had a feed. Taronga Zoo has welcomed its baby boy elephant.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
IT’S a boy! Taronga Zoo’s elephant herd has welcomed a new member, born in the wee hours of Friday.
Pak Boon gave birth to her son at 1.35am, watched on by her seven-year-old daughter Tukta and “aunty” Tang Mo. Although dwarfed by the rest of the herd, he weighed a healthy 130kg.
It was a quick, fuss-free, 35-minute labour after an almost two-year pregnancy, Tim Bennett, one of the keepers who witnessed the birth, said.
The yet-to-be-named youngster was standing within five minutes of his birth and Mr Bennett, 23, said he was “a typical boy”.
“He gave his first trumpet today after a duck walked past,” he said.
“He is pretty confident, although he still likes to hang out under his mum’s belly as his safety net.”
Rich mother’s milk will boost his weight by up to 2kg a day.
“His sister has been very nurturing, not letting anyone come near him,” Mr Bennett said.
Dad to both of them is zoo bull elephant Gung. Mr Bennett said the keepers began preparing for the birth after noticing subtle changes in behaviour in mum Pak Boon, such as flapping her tail and looking uncomfortable.
Zoo CEO Cameron Kerr said the birth was a great result for the Australasian Asian elephant breeding program.
MORE PHOTOS INSIDE OUR GALLERY
The zoo has now overseen the deliveries of five elephant calves since the breeding program began just over a decade ago — four in Sydney and one in Dubbo.
“This is fantastic news for the Australasian breeding program for Asian elephants as every birth helps secure a future for this endangered species,” Mr Kerr said.
Pak Boon and her calf will bond behind the scenes before making their public debut.
Vow on troubled hospital’s future after child’s death
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park has vowed the state government will “do anything we can” to make sure the troubled Northern Beaches Hospital will “come back into public hands”.
‘Died for 10 minutes’: Dan Single opens up about near-fatal fall
Sydney creative Dan Single has spoken at length for the first time about his near-fatal fall from a Paris hotel balcony in March 2017, opening up to an audience for his return to Australian Fashion Week.