Baby Elephant Makes Public Debut At Howletts Wild Animal Park
June 17, 2014
Keepers at Howletts Wild Animal Park are celebrating the birth of an adorable baby Elephant. Born just over a week ago, the calf and her mother Tammi are both reported to be doing well.
Damian Aspinall, Chairman of The Aspinall Foundation, the conservation charity that works closely with Howletts and Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks, tweeted pictures of the female calf, just hours after birth and said: ‘Had our 22ndele birth at Howletts today. Prob a little girl. Only 33 born in UK total, so very happy.’
The calf brings the herd number at the wild animal park, near Canterbury to 13 and cements the park’s reputation for being one of the most successful breeders of African Elephants in Europe .
Damian also tweeted: ‘Amazing to think 2 out of 3 eles born in UK are born here at Howletts.’
Howletts cares for the largest herd of African Elephants in the UK including bull Elephant Jums who stands at over 11 feet tall and weighs around 6100kg, a stark contrast to the tiny new arrival. Father to 18 offspring, Jums is now 37 years old.
Natalie Boyd, Head of Elephant Section said: ‘We are delighted to welcome our newest member of the herd after a 21 ½ month wait, and are especially pleased with the range of natural behaviours shown by our elephants, who were all present. Many other females, including all Tammi’s extended family assisted in getting the calf to her feet within minutes and encouraging her to suckle. This is Tammi’s fifth baby and she is, once again, proving to be an excellent mother, and this time is assisted by Jara, Uzuri and even little four year old Manzi.’