The OKC Zoo and Botanical Garden sends this information as posted below:
The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden announces that endangered Asian elephant, Asha (31), has given birth to a female calf born on Friday, June 26, 2026 inside the Zoo’s elephant barn at Sanctuary Asia.
Asha was expected to give birth in September but went into labor early, delivering her calf almost two months before her approximate due date. The premature elephant arrived almost two months early but appears in good health and will remain under observation to ensure its thriving.
“At this time, we are all feeling cautiously optimistic that the calf will meet key milestones for elephant calves,” said Rachel Boyd, OKC Zoo’s curator of elephants. “Asha and her calf are being closely observed by their caretakers and the Zoo’s veterinary team, monitoring the calf for healthy behaviors like standing, nursing and sleeping which are observed in the first 24 hours.”
Asha went into labor around 10 a.m. on Friday, June 26, the Zoo’s veterinary and elephant care teams began to prepare for her delivery. Her labor progressed quickly and she successfully delivered her calf at 1:36 p.m. The animal care teams performed a quick neonatal exam on the calf immediately following its birth to check it vitals. The calf weighs 264 lbs. The average birth weight for Asian elephants is 200 to 300 lbs. Caretakers also shared that the calf was up and moving shortly after being born. Asha and her calf will remain off public view to allow them quality time together.
With the addition of this newest calf the Zoo’s herd grows to nine individual elephants. The Zoo’s elephant family also spans there generations with Asha, her daughter Achara (11), and her calf Xerxes (1). Additional herd members include Asha’s daughters Kairavi (7) and Rama (4) and her sister Chandra (30), and males Kandula (24) and Bowie (12). The Zoo’s elephant caretakers have not officially announced a name for the newborn calf at this time.
Asha’s pregnancy was announced in 2025 and monitored regularly by the veterinary and elephant care teams through ultrasounds, hormone testing, and visual exams. She had a breeding recommendation with both Bowie and Kandula as part of a breeding recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan® (SSP) for Asian elephants, and as such, the identity of the calf’s father will be determined by a future blood test.
Each SSP is a cooperatively managed program created to ensure the long-term conservation of imperiled species within AZA accredited zoos and aquariums. Elephants have the longest gestation period of all mammals at 22 months from conception to birth. Newborn elephants can weigh 200-300 pounds at birth and are mobile shortly after being born.
Asian elephants are endangered, with the species facing threats such as habitat loss and human-elephant conflict. The Oklahoma City Zoo leads conservation efforts to understand and address human-elephant conflict through its research initiative, the Sri Lanka Elephant Project. The OKC Zoo is currently the only AZA zoo leading research on wild Asian elephants to better understand how human activity influences behavior, social relationships, and health outcomes. The Zoo is also a partner of the Asian Elephant SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction program to raise awareness for Asian elephants through conservation education, outreach, and special events.
Located at the crossroads of I-44 and I-35, the Oklahoma City Zoo is a proud member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the American Alliance of Museums and Oklahoma City’s Adventure District. Purchase Zoo admission in advance at okczoo.org/tickets and bypass the lines. Follow the OKC Zoo on Facebook, Instagram, Linktree, and TikTok to stay connected with Zoo news and happenings.
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