Baby Elephant

[LiesaAnna]

just read on orlando sentinal about this poor elephant! i love elephants!
this is so sad, after 22 months in the womb! poor love, must be very sad for Animal Kingdom

quoted from OS
A baby elephant died late Sunday afternoon during birth at Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom, a company spokeswoman said.

The African elephant died in its mother's womb, said spokeswoman Jacquee Polak.

The mother elephant, Ibala, 26, went into labor early Saturday night after a 22-month gestation period. During the following hours, her contractions lessened, and a veterinarian had to induce labor. By late Sunday, veterinarians determined through an ultrasound that the baby elephant had died, Polak said.

Polak said the calf would stay inside the mother until it is expelled, which could take up to a year. A necropsy will then be performed, she said.

"This is a time of profound loss for the dedicated team of people who have been working tirelessly during the two-year gestation, and particularly since the elephant first began to show signs that the birth was imminent last week," Beth Stevens, vice president of Disney's Animal Kingdom, said in a written statement.

"While this news is extremely disappointing, they are continuing to devote their energy to the health and well-being of the mother. That is our main focus going forward."

Ibala came to Animal Kingdom in 1997 from the Phoenix Zoo and became pregnant through artificial insemination. This was her first calf, Polak said.

In July, a 230-pound female elephant named Kianga was born at Animal Kingdom. And in May 2003, a male elephant named Tufani was born.

[msncry][grouphug][grouphug][grouphug]

[Curly Wurly]

awwww......how sad [msncry] I love elephants too and the baby ones are so cute.

[Lyn]

So sad[msncry] but how awfull having toi carry the dead calf around for another year[msnsad]

[bluebirds]

I feel very sad. I shall be looking out for her when we visit next month. I hate staories like this.[msncry]

[Cruella DeVilla]

Oh I too love elephants. Such a shame

[Lyn]

Just read the following story in the Orlando Sentinal, what a very sad case.


An elephant whose calf died in its womb last month at Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom died Saturday from a uterine infection, a company spokeswoman said.

Ibala, a 26-year-old African elephant and a first-time mother, went into labor in late April after a 22-month gestation period. After several hours, Ibala's labor stalled and veterinarians determined her calf had died. The calf was to stay inside the mother until she expelled it, said Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Polak.

This week, veterinarians determined Ibala was continuing to have contractions in an attempt to expel the calf. On Friday, veterinarians performed an emergency episiotomy and removed the baby elephant. Hours later, Ibala died, Polak said.

A necropsy determined she died from endotoxic shock, a severe infection of the uterus and abdominal cavity, Polak said.

Polak said the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which monitors and regulates zoo animals, had been contacted about the death but it was unclear Saturday if an investigation will be conducted.

Ibala came to Animal Kingdom in 1997 from the Phoenix Zoo. She became pregnant through artificial insemination on July 24, 2003.

"This is a sad day, not only for those who have been working tirelessly with this elephant, but also for everyone at the Walt Disney World Resort who have been following Ibala's progress over the past year," said Beth Stevens, vice president of Disney's Animal Kingdom. "We look for comfort in the fact that scientists and veterinarians have learned a great deal from Ibala to benefit other elephants in wildlife parks and in the wild."

In past years, there have been successful elephant births at Animal Kingdom. In July, a 230-pound female elephant named Kianga was born. And in May 2003, a male elephant named Tufani was born.

Animal Kingdom's elephant-breeding program is part of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association's species-survival plan. Association members work together to breed 125 species to maintain their population in an effort to reduce the number of animals taken from the wild.
.............

Leaving the calf to be expelled naturally was obviously the wrong thing to do, perhaps if the episiotomy was carried out sooner the elephant would have lived[?]

[LiesaAnna]

thanx Lyn for that update, that is so very very sad, i love elephants but at least some comfort for future pregnancies and deliveries! they will learn from that lets hope they will have more baby elephants born at animal kingdom one day![msnsad]

[moonbeam]

AH! what sad news! [msncry]