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Second Baby Elephant Born At Oklahoma City Zoo

The Oklahoma City Zoo's new baby elephant during a wellness checkup shortly after the 1:35 p.m. birth on Monday, December 22, 2014
Oklahoma City Zoo
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The Oklahoma City Zoo's new baby elephant during a wellness checkup shortly after the 1:35 p.m. birth on Monday, December 22.

The wait is finally over for elephant watchers at the Oklahoma City Zoo after a 332-pound female Asian elephant was born Monday afternoon.

It's the second elephant born at the zoo, and the second calf for 19-year-old Asha, who gave birth to Malee in 2011.

“I am proud of our team’s commitment to elephant care and conservation and the entire Zoo family is grateful for the community’s support,” Dwight Lawson, OKC Zoo Executive Director/CEO said in a statement. “Asian elephants are endangered so this calf is great cause for celebration, and we are excited to share this event with Oklahomans and elephant fans everywhere very soon.”

The Zoo says blood tests taken Thursday indicated Asha's progesterone levels had fallen to a point where labor was imminent.

The Asian elephant's gestation period is about 22 months.

Asha and the calf will likely be kept away from the public for a few days so the two pachyderms can bond. The zoo will eventually ask the public to weigh on naming the new addition.

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Brian Hardzinski is from Flower Mound, Texas and a graduate of the University of Oklahoma. He began his career at KGOU as a student intern, joining KGOU full time in 2009 as Operations and Public Service Announcement Director. He began regularly hosting Morning Edition in 2014, and became the station's first Digital News Editor in 2015-16. Brian’s work at KGOU has been honored by Public Radio News Directors Incorporated (PRNDI), the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters, the Oklahoma Associated Press Broadcasters, and local and regional chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists. Brian enjoys competing in triathlons, distance running, playing tennis, and entertaining his rambunctious Boston Terrier, Bucky.
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