PORTLAND, Ore. The
Oregon Zoo has welcomed to the world a healthy, 300-pound bundle of joy.
Curators say Asian
elephant Rose-Tu has given birth to a female calf.
The zoo says the birth
came at 2:17 a.m. Friday, and the youngster is healthy, vigorous and loud, or
as zoo Director Kim Smith put it: "She's definitely got a great set of
pipes."
The zoo says the newborn
has begun nursing.
The public won't be able
to see the calf until its mother has established a maternal bond, she's
comfortable with staff members and she has a chance to bond with the rest of
the herd.
The zoo says the baby's
name the public will help naming the baby elephant through an online vote.
The calf is Rose-Tu's second and the zoo's 28th, beginning with Packy in
1962.
