There is even more good news from Dublin Zoo this morning with the announcement of the arrival of a third Asian elephant calf this week. The healthy female calf was born to mother Bernhardine at 11.45 pm on 17th September weighing in at 68kg.
This is the third elephant calf to be born at Dublin Zoo within a 10-week period. The first calf, Kavi, was born to mother Yasmin on Thursday, 17th July, followed closely by Ashoka, named after one of India’s greatest emperors, born to mother Anak on Tuesday 19th August.
Paul O’Donoghue, assistant director at Dublin Zoo said: “It is just incredible for us to be announcing the birth of three Asian elephants in the space of ten weeks. It is an extraordinary achievement for the animal care team here at Dublin Zoo who are very proud of the expanding herd and of the significance of these births for the future of endangered Asian elephants.
“Bernhardine, is the oldest female and the herd’s matriarch. She is an experienced mother and this is her fourth calf.”
Dublin Zoo also revealed some of the events planned for this October 2014 which the Zoo along with Dublin City Council and sponsor of the Kaziranga Forest Trail, The Natural Confectionery Company have named the “Month of the Elephant” in celebration of the three new arrivals at Dublin Zoo. It is set to be an ‘elephantastic’ month with an exciting elephant themed calendar of family fun days, events, workshops and keeper talks at the Zoo and in schools and libraries all around the city.
What’s more, Dublin Zoo will be taking the celebration to the streets of the capital and inviting the public to join the Elephant Trail around Dublin city centre on Saturday, 18th and Sunday 19th October. The Elephant Trail will be an opportunity for families to take part in a FREE treasure hunt style event around the city and learn lots of interesting elephant facts along the way. The Elephant Trail will end at Barnardos Square where a family fun Elephant Extravaganza will take place featuring keeper talks from the Dublin Zoo elephant team, face painting, elephant arts and crafts and much more to ensure all the family have trucks of fun!
A naming competition will be hosted on Dublin Zoo’s Facebook page and the Zoo is calling on the public to suggest a name for the latest arrival based on its Asian origins.
