Newest Zoo baby expected to arrive spring of 2009

ATLANTA (Nov. 19, 2007) – Zoo Atlanta announces the pregnancy of 25 year old African elephant, Dottie. Dottie was artificially inseminated early June 2007. Five months of hormone monitoring and a recent ultrasound confirmed the pregnancy. She is expected to give birth in spring of 2009 following a 22-month gestation.

This is the first elephant pregnancy for Zoo Atlanta. "We have had several important births here at Zoo Atlanta including the births of our giant panda cub, Mei Lan and western lowland gorilla twins Kali and Kazi. The possibility of an African elephant birth is very exciting,” states Dennis Kelly, president and ceo of Zoo Atlanta.  

Dottie is receiving excellent care from Zoo Atlanta keepers and veterinary staff; however for all mammals pregnancy does carry some risk. Currently, Dottie and her calf appear to be healthy and they will be monitored closely throughout the pregnancy. Executive Director of AZA, Kristin L. Vehrs, adds, “We are very hopeful for the addition of a new calf to Zoo Atlanta. Zoo Atlanta is a pioneer in education among AZA accredited zoos. They go above and beyond to meet our comprehensive standards for elephant management and care.”

The elephant population is declining at a devastating rate
According to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), in the past 25 years, the African elephant population has dropped from 1.6 million to less than 500,000. In AZA institutions the population of African elephants in North America is only 151 animals; although it has increased slightly in recent years, it is not yet self-sustaining, making pregnancies such as Dottie’s extremely important. The AZA has implemented the Species Survival Plan (SSP) to manage the conservation and breeding of North American African elephants. In order to maintain a healthy population that is genetically diverse, demographically stable and self-sustaining, accredited zoos must follow the AZA’s SSP breeding recommendations. Dottie was approved by the AZA’s SSP as a good candidate for assisted reproduction. 

About Dottie and Her Pregnancy

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