Birth of Elephant Calf at Lion Sands - Kruger

"Lion Sands guests witness the birth of an elephant calf!

Truly amazing, this past week Lion Sands (Sabie Sand Wildtuin - neighbouring the Kruger National Park) witnessed an elephant mother giving birth to a healthy calf which is a very private affair.

African elephants breed throughout the year, with most births in early summer (September - November). Females, otherwise known as cows, are in oestrus for 3 to 6 days, with gestation approximately 22 months.

At the time of birth females will seek a shady secluded retreat often near water and may clear the ground prior to giving birth. At this time other females who act as guards may accompany the female who is in labour and help clean the membranes off the baby once it is born. Calves can stand and walk within an hour of birth. Calves at birth stand about 900 mm at the shoulder and have an average body mass of 120 kg. They are pinkish in colour and have more hair on their bodies than the adults. At this stage their eyesight is poor and they maintain contact

with the females by feeling with their trunks. They suckle with their mouths not their trunks and may continue to suckle for two or three years, up to the age of eight years. Females will also rarely allow calves other than their own to suckle.

Young elephants are subject to predation by lions and spotted hyaenas and remain close to their mothers, rarely moving more than a few meters from her side during the first few months of life. A very young elephant calf walks under its mother’s belly between her legs and the mothers and other females in the herd will defend the calves vigorously at this stage."

This extract can be found on the Lion Sands website http://www.lionsands.com/journals/?cat=1