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Bringing up Baby
When a baby is born, the mother’s instincts should kick in immediately. She may try to help the calf to its feet (with her trunk or foot). It’s uncommon, but not unheard of, for elephants to actually lift the calf to its feet. They generally try to get it upright with a foot to the calf’s spine for leverage. In the wild, there is a constant threat from predators. A calf that doesn’t get to its feet quickly is at risk of being attacked by a predator.
An infant elephant at birth usually weighs between 180 and 330 pounds with the average at about 220 pounds. Rose-Tu weighed 180 pounds upon delivery, and her new baby weighed 286 pounds.
Part of a Family
A newborn is an important addition to the herd. With Rose-Tu’s baby, Chendra and Sung-Surin serve as “aunties,” helping to look after him. Initially, the father, Tusko, will not interact with the baby. Eventually, he will be introduced to the calf as he continues to interact with the rest of the herd.
Nursing is an important part of an infant’s growth and development. After an expected initial weight loss in the first week, calves should gain about 2 pounds per day. A baby elephant can nurse for up to five years, and will begin supplementing its mother’s milk with solid food after 10 or 12 months. A calf learns to eat solid foods by imitating other elephants as he gets older.
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