Houston Zoo Welcomes New Asian Elephant Calf Kirby to Conservation-Minded Family

The Houston Zoo has announced the birth of a 314-pound female Asian elephant calf named Kirby. Born to mother Shanti after 19 hours of labor last Friday, Kirby was able to stand shortly after birth and began walking soon after. Zoo officials also reported that she began nursing from her mother relatively quickly, which is seen as a positive sign for her development.

Kirby's birth took place in the McNair Asian Elephant Habitat cow barn, according to the Houston Zoo's blog. She joins the zoo's elephant family, which includes siblings Nelson and Joy. The zoo's elephant and veterinary teams closely monitored Shanti throughout her 21-month pregnancy, which is typical for elephants, known for having some of the longest gestation periods among land mammals.

While Kirby and Shanti are bonding behind the scenes before presenting themselves to the public, the zoo's attention is fixed on their interaction and ensuring Kirby meets weight gain objectives, as mentioned in KHOU's coverage of this event.

Visitors to the Houston Zoo contribute more than just their admission fees, as a portion of the proceeds goes toward supporting elephant conservation efforts in Asia. This initiative is an integral part of the zoo's mission. Funds help support projects such as tracking wild elephants to gain a better understanding of their movements and enhance conservation efforts. The zoo has supported conservationist Nurzhafarina "Farina" Othman and her team since 2007 in their work across Asia, as per KHOU.

The zoo's recent baby boom also includes a new jaguar cub and a young pygmy hippopotamus added to their family roster, joining the ranks of their high-profile mating program success stories.