PREVIEW

Houston Zoo staff are extra delighted this U.S. Mother’s Day (12 May2024) as their Asian elephant Shanti is a mum-to-be!
The pregnant pachyderm, 33, is expected to give birth at the end of 2024 and has actually been pregnant a while before showing - as the average gestation for an elephant is approximately 659 days or 22 months.
The father is 58-year-old Asian elephant, Thailand. The calf’s sex will remain a surprise for all as ultrasounds are not able to determine the gender.
Shanti is an experienced mom and very attentive to her calves as she watches over them closely. Guests at the zoo already fawn over Shanti with her two youngest, Nelson (4) and Joy (6), in the elephant habitat.
The Zoo’s dedicated animal care team are monitoring Shanti to ensure mom and calf are staying healthy in the remaining months of the pregnancy through weekly blood draws. By tracking Shanti’s hormone levels, the team is optimistic about the progression of the pregnancy.
When she’s ready, Shanti will give birth in the Zoo’s McNair Asian Elephant habitat cow barn under the supervision of her keepers and veterinary team.
Once the calf is born, Shanti and her newborn will undergo post-natal exams and spend several days bonding behind the scenes before introducing the new addition to the rest of the herd.