
Audio By Carbonatix
Elephants are notorious for their long memories, but now they will be renowned for their lengthy pregnancies.Long-suffering Asian elephant Azizah was carrying her baby for 700 days - 84 longer than the average - and finally gave birth at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, Bedfordshire, last Tuesday.It is believed to be the longest pregnancy ever recorded at the British zoo - nearly two extra months over the normal gestation period of 22 months.And the baby, at just 16 stone (104kg) at birth, is the smallest in Whipshade's history.Keepers were so concerned about the diminutive size of the newborn - yet to be named - they thought he wouldn't be able to reach his mother's milk.But the clever calf, Azizah's third, soon solved the problem by learning to stand on his tip-toes.Elephant keeper Lee Sambrook said: 'Azizah took to him straight away and the rest of the herd are so excited to be around the baby and touch it.Elephants are social animals and having youngsters joining the herd is what elephant life is about.'The calf is now venturing out of the elephant barn with the rest of the heard.And visitors are flocking to the zoo so as to catch a glimpse of him playing with his siblings and suckling his mother, who will not forget the lengthy pregnancy in a hurry.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
$600m tomato imports undermining Ghana’s economy — Chamber of Agribusiness
1 hour -
Rainstorm wreaks havoc: Faulty transformers, feeder failures leave parts of 3 regions without power
1 hour -
CUTS International calls for urgent competition law amid sachet water price hikes
2 hours -
‘I never did this advert’, AI clones hijack Ghanaian identities for profit
2 hours -
25-year-old woman battles trauma after surviving deadly Nkwanta attack
3 hours -
Vice President honoured at Tortsogbeza as South Tongu leaders highlight development needs
3 hours -
Kwahu Business Forum 2026: Corporate citizenship, sustaining African businesses take centre stage with KGL as the case study
4 hours -
Trump seeks $152m to reopen notorious Alcatraz prison
6 hours -
Ex-Chelsea player Oscar retires with heart issue
6 hours -
CA Foundation drives constitutional literacy in Kpone Katamanso municipality
6 hours -
GPRTU to hold talks with Transport Ministry over rising fuel costs
6 hours -
CUTS International urges gov’t to halt sachet water price hike pending cost review
6 hours -
Chief Justice: Efficient Judiciary essential to reducing business costs
7 hours -
Bayern grabs 99th-minute winner to cap superb fightback
7 hours -
Ahmed Ibrahim urges Ghanaians to reflect Easter values in nation-building
7 hours