The first African elephant calf born at Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa makes its public debut today. The 210-pound elephant is now 3 weeks old.
By ALEXANDRA ZAYAS
Published November 11, 2005
TAMPA - Little faces peeked through holes in the fence Thursday morning to see the first African elephant calf born at Lowry Park Zoo.
Everyone else had to wait until today, when the elephant debuts for park visitors.
"I like the ears - the pink part," said 5-year-old Hannah Lefave.
The children oohed and aahed at the 3-week-old elephant's awkward movements. They watched it burrow its wrinkly trunk and floppy ears into the sand to cool off, and then seek shelter from the sun in the huge shade cast by his mother, a 20-year-old African elephant named Ellie.
The 210-pound elephant is slowly discovering how to maneuver the 40,000 muscles in his trunk, zoo trainers said. He doesn't know how to suck up water through his trunk yet, but he can blow bubbles with it. Most of his diet consists of his mother's milk, and he has learned to crawl up her leg to nurse.
He tries to mimic the way she eats hay.
"Elephants are excellent parents," said Melinda Mendolusky, who works with the elephants and will be on hand today to answer questions. "They're very protective of their young."
Two other female elephants at the zoo have also bonded with baby. Matjeka and Mbali have assumed the roles of "aunt" to look after the baby while Ellie takes meal breaks.
"The whole group will raise the young together as a herd. They're definitely very close," Mendolusky said.
Because the baby spends a lot of his time nursing and napping, zookeepers anticipate the mom and baby will make morning appearances in the main elephant yard and spend afternoons in privacy.
Zoogoers will be able to see the elephants year round, unlike at many other U.S. zoos.
"The climate here throughout Tampa Bay is just ideal," said Craig Pugh, deputy director at the zoo. "With the room to roam, they can exhibit many more of the natural behaviors that are such an important part of raising an infant."
Schools from Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Polk, Hernando, Sarasota and Manatee counties submitted names for Lowry Park Zoo's "Name the Baby Elephant" contest. The five below were selected as finalists. To cast your vote, visit www.lowryparkzoo.com The winning name will be announced Dec. 12.
Jabali (JAH-bah-lee), means "strong as a rock," entered by Purcell Elementary in Mulberry
Jasiri (JAH-see-ree), means "fearless," entered by West Hernando Middle School in Brooksville
Kidogo (Key-doh-go), means "something small," entered by La Voy Exceptional Center in Tampa
Moja (Mo-ja) means "one" or "first," entered by Muller Magnet Elementary in Tampa
Tamani (Tah-mah-nee) means "hope," entered by Frontier Elementary in Clearwater
