Elephant mom confidently helps newborn to her feet. See baby join herd at Nebraska zoo
As an elephant named Jayei birthed her baby, the other elephants in her herd began to grow anxious.
But not Jayei.
She’s the matriarch, or leader, of the African elephant herd at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Nebraska — and she’s also the zoo’s most experienced mother.
At about 30 years old, Jayei delivered her baby at about 6:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 6, according to a Facebook post from the zoo.
“What we watched Sunday morning was simply incredible,” officials with the zoo said. “After about three hours of labor, Jayei delivered a female calf.”
And while other elephants were alert and curious, the zoo said “Jayei remained relaxed and attentive to her calf.”
Jayei calmly and confidently helped her newborn girl up to her feet, according to zookeepers.
“Because of Jayei’s experience as a mother and the time of year, she was given access to the outdoor habitat just four hours after the birth of her calf,” according to the post. “The elephant care team was fortunate enough to share the calf’s first moments outside with many of our guests Sunday morning.”
Photos show the mom and her baby joining the herd in the zoo’s outdoor yard while staying close together.
“Not only is our newest member of the herd the smallest of the bunch, she’s also the calf that is most likely to be hanging out under mom,” the zoo said.
This is the fourth African elephant born at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium.
The zoo welcomed a baby boy in March, and half-siblings Eugenia and Sonny were born in January 2022, according to a Facebook post.
Jayei was one of five elephants to join Omaha’s herd in 2016 after being rescued from Swaziland, South Africa, according to the zoo. The small country was experiencing a severe drought, and “the reduction of food and resources was threatening many species in the wildlife parks there, including the elephants.”
Experts estimate there are about 415,000 African elephants in the wild, according to World Wildlife Fund. Herds can be found in 37 African countries.
“Numbering three to five million in the last century, African elephant populations were severely reduced to its current levels because of hunting,” WWF said. “In the 1980s, an estimated 100,000 elephants were killed each year and up to 80% of herds were lost in some regions.
“In recent years, growing demand for ivory, particularly from Asia, has led to a surge in poaching,” WWF continued. “Populations of elephants — especially in southern and eastern Africa — that once showed promising signs of recovery could be at risk due to the recent surge in poaching for the illegal ivory trade.”
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