A three-day-old Asian elephant calf, weighing approximately 290 pounds, has captured hearts at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo in Dunstable, Bedfordshire.

Seen sticking close to his mother Azizah’s legs, the newborn explored the zoo’s expansive seven-acre paddock alongside her.

Born on Tuesday morning, the male calf is Azizah’s fourth baby. During her labor, the herd of ten elephants gathered nearby, providing a supportive presence for the new mother.

Lee Sambrook, assistant curator of elephants, described the experience as remarkable:
“It was wonderful to witness a birth at the zoo. Seeing a baby born surrounded by his aunties and uncles in such a natural setting was a privilege. Elephants are highly social animals, and the herd’s presence helped Azizah stay calm and focused. It was fantastic that the birth occurred naturally, with minimal human intervention.”

Asian elephants are known to grow between seven and twelve feet tall and can live for up to 80 years in captivity.

Unlike their larger African relatives, they have smaller ears and can weigh as much as 11,000 pounds when fully grown.

The yet-to-be-named calf has already become a favorite within the herd and among visitors, who can spot him playing with his older siblings in the paddock.

Whipsnade Zoo’s elephant breeding program has successfully welcomed nine calves to date. Azizah holds a unique place in the program’s history, having set the record for the longest elephant pregnancy ever documented in a British zoo. In 2011, she carried her baby for 700 days, exceeding the average by 84 days.

The new arrival adds to the zoo’s success in nurturing these magnificent animals while offering visitors a glimpse into the strong social bonds within an elephant herd.