ZSL Whipsnade Zoo baby elephant..

Thanks I will :) It was planned before this and as she has been all over the news I am sure we wont be alone there :)

I love baby elephant when they are at the fuzzy stage and their trunks seem too long for their bodies and out of control :)

Fantastic pics Kaz
 
Adorable pics Kaz! and it looks like the rain held off while you were snapping away ha ha! *wonders where our summer has gone* it will be nice to see her develope. I heard that she still hasn't got a name but I suppose they don't want to tempt fate.
 
Well, 'fate' will be knocking around for many years yet in the form of the herpes virus so I doubt they will hold off naming her that long, it does present them with a difficulty though and I would not be surprised if elephant births are somewhat less publicised and celebrated at this institution from now on. It's interesting, following the neonatal okapi death at Regent's park last year, ZSL chose not to publicise the birth of the Malayan Tapir even with a sign explaining the closure of the house, which I respect them a great deal for.

I think births and a diverse age range in captive elephant groups is so important that I hope the park continue with best practice hygiene and screening for the virus and continue to allow mothers to rear calves in the hope of a vaccine becoming available.
 
I could not agree more with you. I was at Whipsnade a few weeks ago and saw Kaylee with the keeper. He took great pains to tell us all about the pregnancy, the virus, how it is spread, how it affects the animals and how they deal with it. Their animals are so precious to them and their work on conservation invaluable I hope ensures this little one the best possible future.
 
Marilyn said:
He took great pains to tell us all about the pregnancy, the virus, how it is spread, how it affects the animals and how they deal with it.
Click to expand...

So tell us more. How do they say it is spread? How do they deal with it? Is there anything they can do to protect this latest calf from it?
 
Hi, well, bearing in mind we were a group of about 10 people all clustered around looking at the very heavily pregnant Kaylee and the questions were being fired thick and fast the Keeper explained it was very like the cold sore virus in humans, this virus lies dormant in the body until symptoms show and you can’t test for it while it is dormant.

He assured us all the elephants are checked for early symptoms three times a day by keepers and the national stock of the drug used to treat them is held by Whipsnade.

ZSL is putting a lot of money, time and resources into the global efforts to find a cure or vaccine for this virus, but until then the best they can do is to be extremely vigilant in recognizing early signs so that treatment can be started without delay. There are examples of calves who have survived after the treatment (ie. in St Louis Zoo) but obviously, as was the case with Donaldson and Leelee, even early, comprehensive treatment is not always enough and not enough is known about how the virus replicates to stop it in its tracks.

Kaylee was pregnant for over 18 months before Donaldson and Leelee died, so rather than intervene they are being very pro active and vigilant with the care of the animals at ZSL Whipsnade as well as pursuing their research for treatment or cure. I hope and pray that this little one will survive under their care and am looking forward to my visit next month.
 
Many thanks for the comprehensive update on what is happening about the Virus, at least as far as Whipsnade/ZSL is concerned.
 
I have added some photos from yesterday visit!

Mum, auntie and baby were all in the fenced enclosure between the car park and elephant house/paddock with 2 keepers!

Never been that close to an elephant before they were literally eating the browse from over our heads and the baby was a joy to watch :D

Confession to make they were asking for questions but didnt feel I could ask about the elephant deaths with som many children and people cooing over the baby (sorry :o)

http://www.zoochat.com/216/how-do-i-measure-up-96743/

http://www.zoochat.com/216/staying-close-96742/

http://www.zoochat.com/216/breakfast-96741/

http://www.zoochat.com/216/helping-hand-96740/

http://www.zoochat.com/216/hand-full-o-96739/

http://www.zoochat.com/216/awww-96802/
 
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These pics are fabulous karenZOO :) baby is gorgeous! You must have been so pleased to get such a great view of her.
 
Thanks Shez

Yes was great to be so close, but alot of the time they were way to close to be able to take photos and I was covered in leaves and bits of branches :)
 
was there again today and in the ask the keeper talk they said they are expecting another calf in april!!!!!!
 
excellent, hope everything goes well for first time mum Karishma though,
 
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