The Toledo Zoo recently announced the birth of a healthy male elephant calf, born to African elephant, Renee. The new 280 pound calf joined the Tembo Trail exhibit on February 17, 2024.
“The birth of this precious baby elephant is such a momentous event. I couldn’t be prouder of our whole Zoo team. The team not only has such dedication to our elephants but they have also made every effort to bring our members and followers along for the journey of Renee’s pregnancy. A huge part of our mission is to inspire and educate, this baby is already helping us achieve our mission,” said Jeff Sailer, president and CEO of the Toledo Zoo.
This birth was made possible through an artificial insemination process. Through the Elephant Species Survival Plan, the father is a male named Titan from Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, Kansas.
“It took months of coordination working with our partners in the field,” said Michael Frushour, general curator of endotherms at the Toledo Zoo. “It takes a special team of experts to perform an elephant AI, and we prioritized working with the best professionals within the United States and from around the world to make sure that happened.”
This is Renee’s third pregnancy. She is expected to be 45 years old in June and weighs approximately 8,300 lbs. She reached 8,800 lbs. during pregnancy. The zoo reports that Renee is is excellent health. Her pregnancy was monitored the elephant team at the zoo who kept her active through daily exercise, monitored her hormone levels, performed weekly ultrasounds and more. View video on the Zoo’s social media channels.
The African elephant is classified as “Endangered” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
“Preserving the future of this species is critical to us, and we are committed to doing so. We’re looking forward to the new calf joining our herd, and we’re optimistic that he will fit in just fine,” Frushour said.
Other elephants in the zoo’a heard include Twiggy and Ajani.
The zoo is holding a naming contest for the new calf. It will close at 11:59 p.m. on March 14. To vote, visit https://toledozoo.info/forms/baby-elephant-naming-vote/.
The name will be announced on the Zoo’s social media platforms on March 15 and the the calf will made its public exhibit debut on Saturday, March 16.
After this date, guests can visit Renee and her calf Monday–Friday from 10am-3pm. Viewing on Saturday and Sunday will be from 9:30am–3pm. Members can get early admission from 9–10 a.m. for Member Mornings. Patience is requested from visitors during this time as only 20 guests will be enter the indoor exhibit at a time, guided by Zoo staff. Noise levels must be kept low and flash photography is not allowed.
The Elephant Baby Bash will be held on April 6. There will be an online component (with an Amazon wish list), an Entry Plaza drop-off site, and a drop-off site inside the Zoo at Tembo Trail that will feature activities, scheduled enrichment and Keeper talks.
For more event details, visit https://toledozoo.org/events/elephant-baby-bash.
The community can also help provide exceptional animal care and enrichment for all animals at the Zoo with a Zoo PAL sponsorship. Starting today, Kroger will match elephant Zoo PAL donations up to $5,000.
Zoo PAL benefits and sponsor levels can be found online. Visit the zoo website for more information about the Toledo Zoo.
Craft with the Wood County Museum
