A male Asian elephant calf was born on Christmas Eve at Artis Zoo in Amsterdam, giving staff and visitors a festive highlight and joining the zoo’s endangered species breeding efforts. The birth took place on Wednesday evening and went smoothly, with the calf quickly standing on all four legs and beginning to nurse from his mother, Thong Thai. Both mother and baby are reported to be in good health.
Quick arrival and healthy start
Zoo animal care team leader Peter Bleesing said staff had observed changes in the elephant herd throughout the afternoon, but did not expect the birth to happen so swiftly. The labour lasted only about ten minutes, and the newborn was immediately active, making smacking noises and drinking from his mother, which is an early sign of good health.
The rest of the herd, including Thong Thai’s other offspring, stayed close during and after the birth. This social support is typical for elephants and is believed to help the calf settle in.
Photo Credits: Hu Chen/Unsplash
Naming crown jewel of the zoo
Artis has invited the public to suggest names for the newborn elephant. Zoo officials ask that name ideas relate to the elephant’s natural habitat or have a meaningful connection to Asia or the zoo itself. Submitting a name is open to visitors and followers of Artis, and the winning suggestion will be selected later.
Although the calf may be visible outdoors in about a week, visitors can already follow him via a livestream provided by the zoo.
A boost for conservation
The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) is classified as a threatened species, and Artis participates in the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) to support genetic diversity and healthy populations across European zoos. Each new birth contributes to the broader effort to conserve the species in captivity and support eventual recovery efforts in the wild.
The herd at Artis now includes five elephants: Thong Thai and her four offspring. Another female in the group is also pregnant, which could mean another calf next year.
