BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted August 27, 2011 Report Share Posted August 27, 2011 From the Disney Parks Blog... Baby Elephant Receives Warm Welcome at Disney’s Animal Kingdom posted on August 25th, 2011 by Jackie Ogden, Ph.D., Vice President, Animals, Science and Environment, Disney Parks We’re proud to report that the elephant herd at Disney’s Animal Kingdom got just a little larger with the birth yesterday (August 24) of our newest calf. Weighing 311 pounds, the male African elephant (no name yet!) was welcomed into the group by his mother Vasha, 10 herd members and our animal care professionals assisting with the birth. This latest addition is the second calf for 25-year-old Vasha, who gave birth to a female calf, Kianga, in 2004. The natural bonding between mother and calf is fascinating to watch (wish I could spend the whole day watching our elephants!). The team is encouraged by the early interaction between mother and calf and will continue to monitor them closely for the next several weeks. These great photos of mom, big sister, and the new calf were taken by Disney photographer Gene Duncan. The next critical milestone is for the calf to continue the bonding process with his mother who will teach him important lessons and protect him as he gradually acclimates to the rest of the savannah herd over the next several weeks. Vasha became pregnant through artificial insemination in October 2009 and received extensive pre-natal care throughout pregnancy. Since early August, our animal care team has provided round-the-clock monitoring, regular ultrasounds and daily hormone monitoring to more accurately predict the beginning of labor. In the past few years, Disney’s animal care teams have been able to narrow the birth window to within four days, which enables them to better prepare for the delivery. This is the sixth elephant born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Others include: Tufani, a male, born in 2003; Kianga, a female, born in 2004; Nadirah a female, born in 2005; Tsavo, a male, born in 2008; Luna, a female born 2010. All six remain at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Of the many animal care and conservation efforts undertaken by the Animals, Science and Environment team, there’s none that we’re more proud of than the team’s work on behalf of elephants. These efforts not only benefit elephants in the wild and in zoological facilities, they also benefit people in communities in Africa – and connect the millions of Guests who visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom with one of the most amazing creatures in the animal world. After all, who wouldn’t be inspired by seeing a herd of elephants (Disney’s Animal Kingdom has one of the largest African elephant herds in North America), including youngsters, in such a beautiful setting. Disney has been at the forefront of efforts to better understand and care for endangered elephants. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is part of a breeding program coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) www.AZA.org that is focused on sustaining the elephant population in North America. AZA’s Elephant Species Survival Plan has called for a five-fold increase in African elephant reproduction efforts – using both natural and artificial breeding methods – in order to create a self-sustaining elephant population among North American zoos and wildlife centers. The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund and the Disney Foundation have directed over $1 million to projects in 20 countries to help protect and conserve elephants in the wild.For more on the elephants at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, see the posts below:Wildlife Wednesdays: First Birthday for Baby Elephant Luna and Conserving Elephants in the WildBaby Elephant Takes First Steps on Kilimanjaro Safaris SavannahUPDATED: New Baby Elephant, a Girl, Arrives at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted September 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2011 From the Daily Disney. Follow this link for video!Baby elephant named Jabali By Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel 4:04 p.m. EDT, August 30, 2011 The baby elephant born at Disney's Animal Kingdom last week has been given a name. He will be known as Jabali, which Disney says is Swahili for "strong as a rock."Jabali was born to Vasha, a 25-year-old African elephant, and he brings the ranks of the herd to an even dozen. Jabali is the sixth elephant to be born at Animal Kingdom. His birth weight was 311 pounds, but he could grow to weigh 10,000 pounds.Jabali will bond with his mother and his sister Kianga before joining the rest of the herd on the theme park's savanna. It will be several weeks before theme-park guests will be able to spot Jabali, a Disney World spokesperson said Tuesday.[email protected] or 407-420-5477 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted September 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2011 From the Disney Parks Blog. Love me some baby elephant!! Wildlife Wednesdays: Baby Elephant Joins Herd on Savanna at Disney’s Animal Kingdom posted on September 7th, 2011 by Jackie Ogden, Ph.D., Vice President, Animals, Science and Environment, Disney Parks At less than two weeks old, our new baby elephant, Jabali, already is being introduced to the savanna at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This is great news for our guests who might catch a glimpse of him when they experience the Kilimanjaro Safaris, and a great accomplishment for both our animal care team and our elephants. When our first baby elephant, Tufani, was born in 2003, he spent several months in his backstage home with his mom before joining the herd on the savanna. The animal care team had much work to do introducing him to the rest of the herd. After all, he was the very first baby for the group. Jabali is our sixth baby elephant born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, so now introductions are much easier. Our elephant team members explain that highly intelligent animals like elephants learn a lot from experience and each other (with great care and training from the team too, of course). So, for example, when Jabali was being introduced to the herd’s matriarch Rafiki, if you could read the bubble over her head, it might say, “I know exactly what you are—and welcome to the family!” Facts about our elephants: <ul>Our elephant herd has 12 members.<li>Six baby elephants (Tufani, Kianga, Nadirah, Tsavo, Luna and Jabali) have been born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.<li>Disney’s Animal Kingdom is part of a breeding program coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Quote Link to post Share on other sites
polkadotsuitcase 12 Posted September 8, 2011 Report Share Posted September 8, 2011 That is the CUTEST little guy! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DebbieT11 5 Posted September 11, 2011 Report Share Posted September 11, 2011 Too stinking cute.... does that mama seem to be missing a tusk?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PureTcrazy...rita 380 Posted September 11, 2011 Report Share Posted September 11, 2011 I can't wait for Mama to see him! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mouseketab.....Carol 1,261 Posted September 11, 2011 Report Share Posted September 11, 2011 We saw him on the savanah yester day!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
we3peas 12 Posted September 11, 2011 Report Share Posted September 11, 2011 We saw him on the savanah yester day!!We saw him Friday with his mama and big sisters all surrounding him to protest him. He's a cutie. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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