Media Release
From the Minister for Environment & Climate Change

Tuesday, 09 February 2010

Victorian families will have the chance to see Melbourne Zoo's baby elephant for the first time tomorrow, Environment and Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings announced today.

The latest addition to the Melbourne Zoo was born in the early hours of January 16 and is the first baby elephant born at the Zoo in its 148 year history.

"The birth of the baby elephant was an historic day for the Melbourne Zoo and from tomorrow visitors will be able to see her in the Trail of the Elephant enclosure," Mr Jennings said.

"The birth of the baby elephant at Melbourne's world class zoo has captured the hearts of people around the world and Zoo staff deserve the praise and thanks of all Victorians for their wonderful efforts.

"When the general public get a glimpse of the baby from tomorrow they will see a beautiful, curious and adventurous young elephant with her doting and very protective mother, Dokkoon.

"She will no doubt be one of the star attractions of the Melbourne Zoo for a long time to come."

Mr Jennings said the baby elephant would be on display for short periods during the early days but the viewing time would be extended once she has adjusted to the public and become more familiar with other members of the herd.

The baby elephant was conceived and delivered as part of the Regional Conservation Breeding Program which the Melbourne Zoo is participating in with other Australasian Zoos.

She is the first baby elephant conceived in Australia via artificial insemination and only the second baby elephant ever born in Australia, the other being at Sydney's Taronga Zoo.

"One of the exciting things about the birth of this baby elephant is that she will soon have a young playmate because another of Melbourne Zoo's adult females, Kulab, is due to give birth in August or September this year," Mr Jennings said.

Melbourne Zoo director Kevin Tanner thanked his staff for their great achievement as well as members of the Berlin-based Zoo and Wildlife Research Institute for their support.

"The birth of the baby elephant has been an incredible team effort and I would like to thank all our staff who were involved," Mr Tanner said.

"Getting a baby elephant to bond with its mother and other members of the herd is not an easy task but I think everyone who comes to see the baby and Dokkoon will appreciate that they have done an amazing job in a very short time.

"We are justifiably proud of the work we are doing at the Melbourne Zoo as part of the Regional Conservation Breeding Program which is helping protect the severely endangered Asian Elephant."