Sedgwick County Zoo has a gigantic pregnancy announcement
The Sedgwick County Zoo will get its first baby elephant ever in 2025 — and not just one.
After announcing two elephant pregnancies in early October, the zoo this week announced two more elephants are pregnant.
“We’ve never had a baby elephant in the zoo — ever,” the zoo’s director of marketing and communications Jennica King said in May.
In October, the zoo said two female elephants — Simunye and Talia — were four months into their pregnancies.
Thursday, the zoo said Xolani and Arusi also are pregnant.
Female elephants are pregnant for 22 months, zoo elephant care manager Lauren Ripple said.
In May, the zoo welcomed a male bull elephant named Callee from the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. Callee joined fellow bull elephants Ajani and Titan, The Eagle previously reported.
Callee had impregnated five of Omaha’s female elephants, and the Sedgwick County Zoo hoped he could do the same for them. It’s not yet known which bull or bulls are responsible for the pregnancies.
“Paternity will be confirmed once the calves are born,” the zoo said.
The zoo provided details on each elephant.
▪ Simunye, 7 months pregnant, “nurturing and protective, baby currently the size of a papaya.”
▪ Talia, 6 months pregnant, “independent and sassy, baby the size of a coconut.”
▪ Xolani, 5 months pregnant, “observant and cautious, baby the size of a grapefruit.”
▪ Arusi, 4 months pregnant, “center of attention and foody, baby the size of an avocado.”
The zoo has six female elephants and three male elephants.
The African elephant population is threatened because of poaching and the illegal ivory trade, according to a news release from the zoo. A potential breeding program in Wichita would help to protect the population of African elephants in the United States.
