18/03/10

She's drinking abouit 12 litres a day of mother Dokkoon's rich milk, and the result is that she's putting on about a kilo a day -- her most recent weight was  186 kg, well up on her birthweight of 110kg .    

Keepers and vets are very happy with her progress, including her increasing mobility. Curator Jan Steele says 'Mali is really finding her feet now, and showing much more agility in navigating the slopes, logs, rocks, and other features of the exhibit landscaping. 'She has always shown a lot of confidence -- she was game for anything, from the moment she arrived! 'Now her abilities are catching up with her instincts, so she is able to move around at a very good pace.However, she generally stays fairly close to Dokkoon, who keeps a very watchful eye over her calf.'  

Mali is currently on display for one viewing time on weekdays and two viewing times on weekends.  Jan explains that 'In between those viewing times, Mali is very busy learning how to be a member of an elephant herd. 'The first objective was to introduce Mali to Dokkoon's closest companion, Mek Kapah, a mature elephant in her 30s who is not used to having a baby bouncing around her feet.  'That is progressing so well that we are now beginning to introduce Mali to the other two adult females in the herd, Num-Oi and Kulab.'

Dokkoon, Kulab, and Num-Oi all arrived at Melbourne Zoo in November 2006, after spending almost two years in quarantine together overseas. While Keepers are putting a lot of effort into integrating Mali into the herd, they are also focusing on the ongoing exercise program for Kulab, due to give birth to the Zoo's second-ever elephant calf in August or September.

Jan says that 'The proof of the value of our exercise program was clear to see during Dokkoon's labour and delivery.  Her superb fitness helped her cope with a very difficult delivery which might otherwise have been very problematic.'