In Fresno, California, a second elephant calf was welcomed at the California zoo within a two-week span. Amahle, an African elephant, gave birth early on Monday morning, following the recent birth of another male calf by Amahle’s mother, Nolwazi, just 10 days prior. Both newborns mark the first elephant births at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo, located approximately 150 miles southeast of San Francisco. The zoo has initiated a breeding program with the aspiration of showcasing elephants to visitors in the future.
Jon Forrest Dohlin, the zoo’s chief executive, expressed delight in the arrival of the two healthy calves, deeming it a significant moment in the zoo’s history. The public is eagerly anticipated to have the opportunity to see the newest members of their elephant herd and partake in the enthusiasm surrounding their birth. As of now, the elephants and their calves will be closely monitored behind the scenes.
Concurrently, the zoo had augmented its exhibition area in preparation for expanding its elephant herd. However, there has been opposition from some animal rights activists towards the breeding initiative, arguing that elephants, due to their intricate needs, should not be kept in zoos. In a bid to enhance the elephant population, the zoo had introduced Mabu, a male elephant, in 2022 with the hopes of breeding him with the two females. Given that elephants have few offspring and a lengthy gestation period of 22 months, the sustainability of elephants in zoos significantly relies on successful breeding programs.