*fingers crossed*
Mar. 10th, 2010 10:48 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
krazykitkatA baby elephant thought to have died in its mother's womb was "miraculously" born alive at Taronga Zoo this morning.
Two days after Taronga Zoo announced its Asian elephant Porntip had lost her male calf during a difficult labour, the zoo announced the calf was born alive at 3.27am today.
"Her dedicated keepers reported the amazing news early this morning that the calf had been born and was showing signs of life to Taronga’s veterinary team, who immediately rushed to the elephant barn to assist Porntip and the calf," zoo director Cameron Kerr said.
"The long-standing, detailed plans were immediately put into place to support the calf in its very delicate situation.
"Porntip is with the calf as her keepers and the veterinary team work to support them both.
"His health is being monitored and it is still too early to know if the calf will survive long term."
The zoo's senior veterinarian and world-leading expert on elephant births told the media on Monday, six days into Porntip's labour, that the calf had died.
"Should the calf be born alive, it would be a miracle," Dr Thomas Hildebrandt said.
But the zoo this morning stressed that it was not known how healthy the calf was.
"While this is incredible news, the young calf still has a long way to go," Mr Kerr said.
"Our vets are now working to determine the possible effects of the protracted labour on the calf.
"There are no guarantees of its long-term survival at this early stage but we hope that its birth against the odds will stand it in good stead."
The zoo's other elephants, Pak Boon, Tang Mo and Thong Dee, as well as eight-month-old Luk Chai, were all calm and in the elephant barn, the zoo said.
Two days after Taronga Zoo announced its Asian elephant Porntip had lost her male calf during a difficult labour, the zoo announced the calf was born alive at 3.27am today.
"Her dedicated keepers reported the amazing news early this morning that the calf had been born and was showing signs of life to Taronga’s veterinary team, who immediately rushed to the elephant barn to assist Porntip and the calf," zoo director Cameron Kerr said.
"The long-standing, detailed plans were immediately put into place to support the calf in its very delicate situation.
"Porntip is with the calf as her keepers and the veterinary team work to support them both.
"His health is being monitored and it is still too early to know if the calf will survive long term."
The zoo's senior veterinarian and world-leading expert on elephant births told the media on Monday, six days into Porntip's labour, that the calf had died.
"Should the calf be born alive, it would be a miracle," Dr Thomas Hildebrandt said.
But the zoo this morning stressed that it was not known how healthy the calf was.
"While this is incredible news, the young calf still has a long way to go," Mr Kerr said.
"Our vets are now working to determine the possible effects of the protracted labour on the calf.
"There are no guarantees of its long-term survival at this early stage but we hope that its birth against the odds will stand it in good stead."
The zoo's other elephants, Pak Boon, Tang Mo and Thong Dee, as well as eight-month-old Luk Chai, were all calm and in the elephant barn, the zoo said.
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(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-10 12:41 am (UTC)But on a slightly different note-- HOLY HELL! SIX DAYS of labor? REALLY?!
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-10 04:23 am (UTC)