NELLYPHANT DOUBLE: German Zoo Celebrates Xmas By Welcoming 2nd Endangered Asian Elephant Calf

The elephant temple Ganesha Mandir in Leipzig Zoo is open again where for the first time, visitors can take a look at the newborn elephant calf.

The newborn baby elephant, that was born on the night of 21st December and is the daughter of Thuza and Voi Nam, joins three-month-old Akito to give a double treat to zoo visitors.

Zoo director Prof. Joerg Junhold said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: "It's fantastic to see how the experienced matriarch takes care of her two daughters, who are raising calves for the first time, and how she intervenes to support them when there is unrest in the herd."

He said he and all the zoo staff were delighted with the second breeding success with the endangered Asian elephants this year.

After the first few days, the excitement subsided and the new herd member is doing well at the moment.

At 124 kilogrammes (19.5 stones), the little one is significantly heavier shortly after birth than Akito was, who was born at 92 (14.4 stones) kilogrammes.

The size difference between the two cubs is currently small - no wonder, since the gestation period of Thuza's daughter was 41 days longer than that of Pantha's son, who was born comparatively small and now weighs 183 kg (28.8 st).

Senior curator Johannes Pfleiderer said: "Now it is important to bring the entire herd together again and for the two young animals to develop healthily."

There were nervous moments with the new mother not feeding the baby especially well but that was now sorted.

Division Manager Thomas Guenther said: “Especially with inexperienced elephants, it sometimes takes a little while for the interaction between a hungry calf and a nervous mother to set in. A few treats for Thuza helped the adjustment phase positively."