Elephant Calf Still Finding His Feet

Thursday 18th March 2010

The young calf has been busy playing with Luk Chai in the top paddock. They push each other about and have a playful wrestle.

Us Keepers are always close at hand, watching them just in case Luk Chai’s antics become a little too boisterous.

The calf had another wash down in the barn with his mother Porntip. He didn’t get too involved in the bath, rather hanging out under Porntips belly.

He still spends a lot of time standing under mum. It will be a while yet before he has the confidence to explore by himself. He's still finding his feet.

Mother Porntip is doing the lion's share of babysitting and nurturing. She is a very protective and attentive mother. Unlike Thong Dee, who gave birth to Luk Chai, she doesn’t seek much help from the aunts to look after the calf.

Water Play for the Calf

Tuesday 16th March 2010

The calf, mother Porntip and Pak Boon just went for a dip in the bottom paddock’s shallow pool. The little calf walked right in and was excited to be shoulder deep in water.

Calf Swimming

The calf was running about in the pool with his trunk out and eyes wide-open with all the excitement.

We threw green apples into the water as a special treat for the girls. The apples bobbed in the water and the girls would pluck them skilfully from the water using their trunks.

Sucklink after swim

After all that hard work, running about and water play, the calf decided it was time for a drink of milk from mum.

Protective Aunts Look After the Calf

Monday 15th March 2010

For the first time yesterday the new calf got to properly meet the other two aunts and eight month old Luk Chai. The six of them hung out in the paddock together and Luk Chai was very excited and interested.

Mother Porntip and an aunt closely watch the playful 350 kilo calf interact with the newborn. Photo by Ben Gibson

This morning they’re all in the lower paddock again. All the aunts are being very protective of the new calf and making sure that there’s no rough play by Luk Chai.

Luk Chai is really curious and keeps touching the new calf with his trunk. The aunts have made a protective moving barricade by keep the playful 350 kilo Luk Chai from getting too close to the newborn.

Mother Porntip and one of the aunts practically formed a fence with their legs so that the calf is safely sandwiched between them. Luk Chai tries to wiggle his way between them, bottom first, but whenever he gets close the adults give him a gentle push pack out again.

Tarongas Calf Is A Climber

Sunday 14th March 2010

The new calf took a walk down to the waterfall today, mostly tucked in tight under his mother, Porntip.

For someone who had such a rough start to life, he tried to take the hill next to the water is his stride and despite a little stumble, quickly got his footing and kept going.

A few visitors were there to catch him exploring his exhibit while Porntip and Aunt Pak Boon leisurely munched breakfast of hay and chunks of palm log.
As he has just begun exploring the world outside the barn, it was all very new and after breakfast he followed Porntip and Pak Boon back inside.

The keepers think he‘ll pop in and out with his mother in coming days so some lucky visitors might catch a glimpse of the calf enjoying the autumn sun.

He’s holding his birth weight of 116 kg and he’s going really well.
As Gary the elephant manager said: “He’s just excited to be alive.”

Lots of Exploring for the Elephant Calf

Friday 12th March 2010

Today the calf got to spend a few hours with his mother’s closest elephant friend Pak Boon. Pak Boon is very curious about the calf. She follows him about and watches him closely. Every now and then she touches him gently with her trunk.

For the first time we gave the three of them access to all of the barn stalls. The calf is getting adventurous and spent many hours discovering his new home.

Another first for the calf was bathtime. The calf shared a gentle wash down in the barn with mum. Initially he hid under her belly to avoid the water, but he eventually came out and participated in the bath. He seemed to enjoy it!

We weighed him again and he’s still 116 kilos which is a good sign that he hasn’t lost any weight.

We still can’t believe that he’s here with us. He’s very delicate and we’re hoping that he'll continue to get stronger.