A baby elephant was born on Thursday at Pairi Daiza Zoo in Brugelette, Belgium, marking a joyous occasion for the park.
The calf was born at 00:18 in the elephant sleeping quarters, surrounded by its grandmother, Khaing Hnin Hnin, and other members of the herd. Both the newborn and its mother, 14-year-old Asian elephant Soraya, are reportedly in excellent health. This is Soraya’s second calf as she previously welcomed a baby named Sayun in December 2020.
“This is always a nerve-wracking challenge for the team, both before and after the birth,” said elephant keeper Nicolas Covens. “We spent countless hours keeping close watch to ensure the delivery went smoothly for Soraya and her calf. We’re now fully prepared to monitor their progress in the coming days.”
This marks the second elephant birth at Pairi Daiza this summer. On 14 June, another female elephant, Farina, gave birth to a calf named Siam.
Soraya and her new calf are part of the endangered Asian elephant species (Elephas maximus). The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimates there are only 40,000 to 52,000 Asian elephants left in the wild, spread across 13 countries in Asia. Habitat fragmentation, human-wildlife conflict, and diseases remain significant threats to their survival.
The new calf has not yet been named.
