The St. Louis Zoo is expecting a 300-pound bundle of joy next summer.
Asian elephant Rani is almost five months into her 22-month pregnancy.
Raja, the first elephant ever born at the St. Louis Zoo, is the father.
Rani is eating her regular diet of grain and hay and has stepped up her
exercise routine, said Martha Fischer, the zoo’s mammal curator. She
will gain some 500 pounds during her pregnancy.
"She’s climbing up on these stumps to strengthen her abdominal muscles.
It’s sort of like a step class," Fischer said. "She needs to increase
those muscles to carry her baby and for the very rigorous delivery."
This calf will be the third elephant born at the St. Louis Zoo in four
years. Rani, 14, gave birth to Jade almost three years ago. Maliha,
born to Rani’s mother Ellie, is 3 years old.
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Asian elephant Rani is almost five months into her 22-month pregnancy.
Raja, the first elephant ever born at the St. Louis Zoo, is the father.
Rani is eating her regular diet of grain and hay and has stepped up her
exercise routine, said Martha Fischer, the zoo’s mammal curator. She
will gain some 500 pounds during her pregnancy.
"She’s climbing up on these stumps to strengthen her abdominal muscles.
It’s sort of like a step class," Fischer said. "She needs to increase
those muscles to carry her baby and for the very rigorous delivery."
This calf will be the third elephant born at the St. Louis Zoo in four
years. Rani, 14, gave birth to Jade almost three years ago. Maliha,
born to Rani’s mother Ellie, is 3 years old.
Read More