The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium shared a huge pregnancy announcement Tuesday afternoon. Literally.
Phoebe, a 33-year-old Asian elephant, is expected to give birth to a calf in mid-to-late June. The species is endangered and it s estimated less than 40,000 animals are left in their native ranges due to habitat loss and poaching.
Hank, also 33, is the calf s father. Phoebe was artificially inseminated, a rare procedure for this species of elephant, with less than 10 successful outcomes.
African elephants have had twice as many births following artificial insemination.
Phoebe and Hank s attempts to breed naturally were unsuccessful, according to the zoo.
The Columbus Zoo s animal care team is monitoring Phoebe closely and observing her calf s development using ultrasound imaging. Team members will tend to her 24 hours a day in the later stages of her pregnancy, according to Tuesday s announcement.
Polar Bears as Patients: Caring for Animals at Henry Vilas Zoo Posted on
Berit is relaxed and enjoys snacking on romaine lettuce. Bo is rambunctious and would rather eat lard.
The pair of polar bears, age 22 and 2, respectively, reside at Dane County’s Henry Vilas Zoo in the award-winning Arctic Passage exhibit. The two love snuggling and tally a combined weight of nearly 1,400 pounds. They’ve been together since January after Bo, short for Borealis, arrived from the Toledo Zoo.
Thurber
“I am so lucky to get to work with such wonderful polar bears,” says Mary Thurber DVM’14, the primary veterinarian at Henry Vilas Zoo. Thurber is a clinical instructor of zoological medicine at the UW School of Veterinary Medicine and a board-certified diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine.