Elephant Calf Born Early at Copenhagen Zoo

Copenhagen Zoo has welcomed a new male elephant calf. The calf arrived a month earlier than expected. This newborn offers local families and visitors a new attraction at the zoo.

Surin, a 28-year-old female elephant, gave birth late on Monday evening. Her pregnancy lasted 22 months. Keepers discovered the baby when they arrived at work on Tuesday morning. Zoological Director Mads Berthelsen described the sudden birth as quite a surprise.

The male calf appears to be doing well. The entire herd gathered around him right after his birth. Staff estimate his weight at just under 100 kilograms. He is a very large newborn elephant. For comparison, another calf named Rawi weighed around 50 kilograms at birth in March.

Keepers do not attend elephant births at the zoo. Staff let the herd handle births naturally without human interference. Experienced female elephants instinctively protect the mother and help with the baby. Keepers are now checking camera footage to see how the birth happened.

Surin arrived in Denmark in 2001. She was a gift from the Thai people to Denmark's royal couple. The zoo herd now has six elephants in total. (Source: Copenhagen Post)