In the final hours of World Elephant Day at the Safari Park, just before midnight on August 12, 2018, female elephant Ndulamitsi gave birth to Umzula-zuli, a male calf, called “Zuli.” Keep an eye out for the little guy on Elephant Cam.
Newborn elephant calves seem a bit silly at first because they are sort of clumsy until they fine-tune their coordination, but they actually develop pretty quickly. At birth a baby elephant, called a calf, is usually quite hairy. It usually measures three feet (one meter) tall and weighs 198 to 265 pounds (90 to 120 kilograms).
In general, a young calf is standing on its own about one half hour after birth and can walk on its own about one hour later. It takes a bit longer to get to the nipple and suckle for the first time because this requires a dual effort with the mother, but calves usually accomplish this within 10 hours of birth. Then they begin to grow and grow and grow. A baby elephant puts on about 2 to 3 pounds a day during their first year of life!
Baby elephants spend their days practicing making all four legs go in the same direction at the same time, perfecting their ear flaring, and mastering the all-important trunk control. It takes quite a few days for the little one to get the hang of coordinating all 40,000 muscles in that trunk!
The day after he was born, Zuli followed his mother into the main habitat to meet the rest of his herd. They gathered round, touching and sniffing him, and trumpeting in joyous welcome. For the first few months, the calf is very dependent upon its mother and other members of the herd.
If you watch as Zuli moves among the herd, you’ll see that Zuli’s mom and aunts are keeping an eye out that all is well. You’re also likely to see some slightly smaller and obviously younger elephants close at hand (…er, trunk). These young females are Zuli’s half-sisters—and his babysitters! As he grows up and strays away from Ndulamitsi, his babysitters will make sure he plays and stays safe, as will the other elephants in the herd. Despite all the playtime and protection, calves still have to navigate through social nuances and establish their social rank within the herd.
Be sure to check the Elephant Cam during breakfast, lunch, coffee breaks…anytime you need an elephant sized (even a baby elephant sized) dose of adorable. Tune in and watch Zuli zoom and thrive!
Wendy Perkins is a staff writer for San Diego Zoo Global.
Sorry!But Zuli is absoluetly Adorable
(currently on cam)three elephants are huddled together in a den
I think it’s definitely Umngani’s baby, Janet. SO tiny and still wobbly and, of course, sticking very close to Mama. S/he is just too cute! Looks as if Kami may be the “senior” babysitter for this one… we shall see! Can’t wait for more information…
Does anyone know if Mama U has her baby???
I’m posting in our recent Ellie blogs to find out. It sure looks that way!
Wendy, thank you for a delightful overview of “baby elephant information.”
Wendy Replies: Thanks! Makes me happy to know you liked it!
Question please…
When Zuli suckles off Khosi, Kami and Nisa is there milk for him or does it cause milk production from the older girls?
Thank you!
Blog Monitor’s note: He gets no milk from them. He suckles because they offer it to him and their mammary glands are easy to reach, but they’re not producing milk so he moves on eventually.
Please post the current physical distinguishing differences between Ingadze, Luti, Mac, Emanti, Neepo, and the 3 girls: Khami, Khosi and Qinisa,
Thank you for your time in this!
Ok I just read his name is Zuli? Is he ok? I love watching him romp around 🙂
Blog Monitor’s note: His full name is Umzula-zuli, but we call him Zuli for short. 🙂
The past few days I have been watching the elephants and noticed the baby wasn’t around. I have yet to learn their names and not sure what the baby is male or female. My guess its a male?
Khosi! Happy 12th birthday to the best little babysitter in the herd!
Was something in particular happening on Monday, Sept. 10? Eight of the elephants were huddled around Zuli for quite a long period of time. I was getting worried that something was wrong with him that they were worried about. Today he seems fine though. Any thoughts?
I’ve noticed that Msholo has been very interested in breeding. I also notice that the rest of the herd seems to be protecting a female, but I’m not sure if this is normal behavior. Or, is the herd just protecting Zuli and mom?
Elephant Team responds: The three female calves, Khosi, Kami, and Qinisa all like to hang out next to Zuli. Khosi has won top babysitting honors thus far. Sometimes Swazi and son join around Ndlula and Zuli with the three girls. Luti will hang in the background if he’s in with his mom and new little brother.
Msholo has bred Kami recently. He has yet to get any of the females pregnant, but we all hope he does someday.
Thanks Wendy for the great article with all the information!
Zuli seems be finding his way in the herd, and he is a little clown. I watch ALL day long as I have watched our Ellies since Nisa was about ten months old. I have learned so much about Ellies and fell more in love with them since discovering the cam. I am hooked!
I am grateful to watch little Zuli grow from a newborn and to find his place in the future with the herd. Ndula is such a sweet Mom, and the other day I saw Zuli and big brother Luti, doing some bonding with their trunks. It was so beautiful, I almost cried.
Since elephants are known to set up family herds and form extremely tight bonds like humans do, will any of the elephants separated to go to different zoos after being “saved from the culling” be reunited with their herd members??
If I donate $ to your organization, what do you do to help save wild elephants? How active have you been in re-educating cultures who buy the ivory from slaughtered African elephants? It’s imperative that these cultures (and the children in these cultures) have their hearts and minds changed to the rights of these noble creatures. As you know, 90 African elephants, again, in the Botswana Preserve were slaughtered for their ivory. “Protect The Elephants” organizations haven’t been successful in either endeavor.
He is sooooooooooo cute!!!! He is also very full of beans :o) Can’t wait for the next baby ellie. Loved watching when all the boys were teeny tinies and into everything.