Asian elephant infant Nandita

7 days old with Sithami (I think) and father Aung Bo. Elephant Paddock, Chester, 27th August 2015

Beautiful image

A little overlooked birth perhaps with all the focus on Islands. Is this a male or female calf?i

Pertinax said:

A little overlooked birth perhaps with all the focus on Islands. Is this a male or female calf?i

Click to expand...

Female, which helps keep the Thi-way (is that right) family going strong for years to come hopefully.

Is there another zoo that has such a family group? Chester only have Maya who is unrelated now.

I like photos like these. Bull elephants almost never come into contact with their offspring in the wild, except to form bachelor herds, but even then I don't think they know their sons. But it's always nice to see bulls with young in zoos. It's good enrichment for a usually solitary animal.

She is Aung Bo's first calf and he seemed to enjoy being near her. Thi, Sithami and Sundara stayed close by. I saw one occasion when he was a little inconsiderate and nudged her as he walked past - the cows all told him off with thunderous rumbles.