The Saint Louis Zoo has something massive yet adorable on the way with one of its star animals, 17-year-old Asian elephant Jade, expecting her first calf either at the tail end of 2024 or the start of 2025. This heartwarming news was shared by KSDK, noting the pregnancy is a buzz of excitement for the Zoo and its visitors.
Common for the species, elephant pregnancies stretch out for nearly two years, we're reminded by the folks at the Zoo. And big babies they have indeed; the newborns often tip the scales between 250 to 350 pounds. To smoothly adapt to her motherly duties, Jade is receiving a tailored regime of nutrients and exercises to ensure a healthy pregnancy. A video shared by the Zoo has already captured attention, giving a sneak peek into Jade's journey with a shot of the calf animatedly kicking inside her.
While the gender of the calf remains a mystery for now, anticipation is high. The FOX2Now report confirms that the Zoo is happily preparing for the arrival of Jade's calf. The Elephant Care team, together with the Animal Health team, has been diligently working to provide the best possible environment for Jade and her in-utero calf, according to Zoo statements.
Following in the big footsteps of her famous father, Raja, known for being the first elephant to be born at the Saint Louis Zoo, Jade is ready to take on motherhood. Raja's legacy is set to continue robustly as he moves to the Columbus Zoo as part of a recommended breeding program. In the meantime, all eyes will remain on Jade, the socially savvy elephant, who has adorably become known for greeting her keepers with squeaks every morning, as highlighted in their social media.
Baby on board!
— Saint Louis Zoo (@stlzoo) October 24, 2024
Jade, 17-year-old Asian Elephant, is expecting her first baby and is due at the end of 2024/beginning of 2025. The Elephant Care team and Animal Health team have worked closely with Jade to prepare for the birth of baby. The sex of the baby is unknown. pic.twitter.com/xC55i9VFIv
