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Summary of Description:
Asian elephants, Tess and Tupelo, are both pregnant and expected to give birth within a few weeks of each other. Tupelo, 10 years old, will give birth first, followed by her mother, Tess, who is 37. The gestation period for Asian elephants is two years.
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Mother and Daughter Asian Elephants Prepare for Birth
Tess and Tupelo, two Asian elephants who reside at the Houston Zoo in Texas, are expected to give birth within weeks of each other after a two-year gestation period. The mother-daughter pair has been receiving special attention and care from the zoo caretakers as they prepare for the arrival of their future offspring.
Tupelo is the first one due to give birth, which has zoo staff members on high alert. According to the zoo’s social media pages, the staff has begun closely monitoring Tupelo, administering regular ultrasounds, and preparing her birthing area with rubber matting and sand.
The anticipation for baby elephant births at the Houston Zoo is high. When Tupelo and Tess give birth, they will be the first elephant calves born at the zoo in eight years. The zoo team is excited to witness the birth of the new family members and has mentioned that both mothers go through gestation, delivery, and maternal care together.
Mother-daughter Bond
The tremendous maternal relationship between Tess and Tupelo is evident as they closely support and communicate with each other throughout their pregnancies. However, the complicated birth process can sometimes threaten both the mother’s and the calf’s lives.
According to the zoo’s veterinary team, an elephant calf might have difficulty entering the birth canal. Besides, the mother’s uterus can rupture during delivery. When this occurs, the mother can experience severe internal bleeding, which can be fatal.
As part of their prenatal care, the zookeepers have conducted regular ultrasounds to observe and monitor the calf’s growth and development. They have also performed ultrasounds on the mothers to check for complications.
Zookeepers Ensure Safe Delivery
The zookeepers have invested a lot of time and energy to educate themselves on the birthing process and implement safety protocols to ensure the animals receive the best prenatal care. The zoo’s elephant team has experience caring for mothers and calves, including hand-rearing a calf if required.
A highly trained and dedicated team of zoo staff on standby, ready to provide support during labor and delivery and watch for any unexpected emergencies.
Final Thoughts
The expected elephant births at the Houston Zoo will be a significant milestone and a testament to the experienced team of caretakers and veterinary staff working hard to ensure the successful and safe delivery of these precious animals.
As we await the birth of these calves, we can only be hopeful and trust the hardworking zoo staff to provide the best care for their newest family members. We hope the delivery will succeed and that both mothers and calves come out healthy and strong.
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Source Description
Mother and daughter Asian elephants Tess and Tupelo are expected to deliver their babies within a few weeks of each other. Both will give birth after a two-year gestation, and the first up is 10-year-old Tupelo, followed by her mother, 37-year-old Tess. Read more: bit.ly/3tO1eSi
