Oklahoma City Zoo Announces Endangered Asian Elephant Is Pregnant

The Oklahoma City Zoo announced big news Wednesday, August 12 for World Elephant Day. The zoo said its endangered Asian elephant, Asha, is pregnant!

This will be the 25-year-old elephant’s fourth calf born at the zoo.

The OKC Zoo’s bull elephant, Rex, 51, is the father, according to a news release. Rex and Asha are also parents to Achara, 5 and Kairavi, 1.

“We are extremely excited to have a calf on the way and look forward to this new addition joining our multigenerational herd, and watching as our elephants interact with a little one,” said Rachel Emory, OKC Zoo’s curator of elephants and rhinos. “Asian elephants are endangered, so every pregnancy is valuable to the survival of this beloved animal as their wild counterparts continue to face extreme hardships in their native habitats.”

Zoo officials said Asha and the calf appear to be healthy. She is expected to give birth in February 2022.