American Elephant Give Birth While On Extended Vacation In Canada

Rosamond Gifford Zoo’s elephant gives birth in Canada.  African Lion Safari announces the birth of the first third-generation Asian Elephant calf in North America.

The Rosamond Gifford Zoo is pleased to announce that Mali, one of the zoo’s two female Asian Elephants on loan to the African Lion Safari in Cambridge, Ontario, gave birth to a healthy male calf on July 15.  The calf was named “Chuck” by the staff at the African Lion Safari after the director of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo.

Chuck was born to 11-year-old Mali after a 614 day gestation period.  The newborn is the first calf for Mali and the fourth calf for father, Rex.  The birth is very significant as it is the first third-generation Asian elephant calf to be born in North America.   

The petite pachyderm greeted the world after only an hour and a half of labor on Tuesday, July 15 at 8:45 a.m., weighing in at 235 pounds and standing 34 inches tall. The new addition is strong and was standing up on his own and nursing within two hours.  Even though Chuck can’t be seen at Rosamond Gifford Zoo, guests will be excited to know that his grandfather, Indy, is one of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo’s very own.

Chuck’s mother, Mali, and his grandmother, Targa, have been out on loan to the African Lion Safari since May 2006. The pair was relocated to give them more space and to allow Mali to begin breeding. The mother and daughter have associated well with the other 13 members of the herd, all of which seem eager to greet the new arrival.

The African Lion Safari, where Mali, Targa and Chuck currently reside, is home to North America’s most successful Asian Elephant breeding program and has more second-generation captive births than any other North American institution.  Chuck is the twelfth elephant to be born at African Lion Safari since 1991. 

African Lion Safari is a drive-thru wildlife park that is home to over 1,000 birds and animals that roam freely throughout large game reserves. 

The Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is focused on conserving, exhibiting and interpreting a living animal collection in order to promote public recreation, understanding of the relationships between animals and people, and action to sustain the environment we share.    The Rosamond Gifford Zoo is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.   Admission is $6.50 for adults, $4.50 for seniors age 62 and up and students age 16 to 21 with I.D, $4.00 for youth ages 3 to 15.  Children two and under are free.   For more information, call the zoo at (315) 435-8511 or visit the zoo’s Web site at www.RosamondGiffordZoo.org.