Omaha zoo welcomes new baby elephant

OMAHA, Neb — The first elephant born at an Omaha zoo entered the world on Friday.

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An 18-year-old African elephant gave birth to the calf Friday at 11:33 a.m. CST, officials at the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium said in a news release.

The calf’s mother, Kiki, was put on a 24-hour-watch on Thursday in anticipation of her labor, KTIV-TV reported.

Callee, the calf’s father, is 21 and came to the zoo in 2019, officials stated in the news release.

The calf will be named at a later date, zoo officials said.

Zoo officials are awaiting the arrival of a second African elephant calf, which is due in February.

According to KMTV and WOWT, the zoo announced in March 2021 that Claire, a 12-year-old African elephant, was pregnant. Callee is also the father, zoo officials said.

Kiki, Claire and four other elephants came to the Omaha zoo after a rescue mission in Eswatini, the country formerly known as Swaziland, the zoo said.

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