The Houston Zoo is on baby watch, expecting an oversized bundle of joy to arrive by year's end. The city's treasure trove of wildlife will soon welcome a new Asian elephant calf, as announced by the zoo officials Thursday. The mother-to-be, Shanti, a 33-year-old Asian elephant, is touting a sizable baby bump, with due dates set towards the tail-end of this year after her 22-month pregnancy period. The father of the upcoming star is none other than 58-year-old Thailand, already boasting a title as a five-time papa, as first reported by the Houston Chronicle.
Shanti's experience as a mother is well noted—having had five calves already—including Baylor and Duncan, who, according to the Chron, reside at the Denver Zoo in an all-bachelor herd and followed by Joy and Nelson, who live in the Houston Zoo with their watchful mom. Shanti's maternal instincts are expected to shine once more, with the zoo staff eagerly monitoring "mom and calf are staying healthy in the remaining months of the pregnancy through weekly blood draws," as stated by zoo officials. Meanwhile, the sex of the calf is the zoo’s best kept secret, with sonograms having a tough time spilling the beans.
Anticipating the calf's arrival, the impeccable animal care team at Houston Zoo remains vigilant, conducting regular blood tests to make sure Shanti's hormone levels strike the right balance. Preparations have been made for her to deliver in the McNair Asian Elephant habitat's cow barn, which will happen under the strict guidelines of her keepers and the veterinary team. This delicate affair is expected to be kept behind curtains initially, to allow for both post-natal exams and a good old fashioned mother-calf bonding session.
The Houston Zoo not only nurtures its own, but it's also a champion for its far-reaching brethren. A nifty portion carved from each visitor's entrance fee goes towards elephant conservation efforts in Asia. Championed by the acclaimed elephant conservationist Nurzhafarina "Farina" Othman, the funds are deployed to collar wild elephants—these trackers become the eyes on the ground, gathering crucial intel to ensure elephant families steer clear of harm's way during their forest escapades, as touted in the press release obtained by the Houston Chronicle.
The elephant-sized news comes hot on the heels of another noteworthy event—the birth of an African Masai giraffe calf at the zoo, which surely adds another feather to the zoo's cap in its conservation initiatives. In the meantime, the zoo bid adieu to one of Shanti's previous calves, Baylor, having recently transferred to the Denver Zoo to join up with his brother Duncan, as the Chron sends off with the news.
