Ear: Calf

“The long wait is over,” the Oregon Zoo announced. “After more than 20 months of pregnancy, Rose-Tu, a 30-year-old Asian elephant … gave birth at 4:29 p.m. Saturday afternoon (Feb. 1) … the calf appears to be a healthy, strong female, weighing in the vicinity of 200 pounds.”

“We couldn’t be happier with how everything is going so far,” said Steve Lefave, who oversees the zoo’s elephant program. “This was one of the smoothest births I’ve ever seen. Rose knew just what to do. She helped her baby up right away. The kid was standing on her own within 15 minutes, and took her first steps soon after that.”

The zoo has been posting updates regularly on the Oregon Zoo Facebook page, showing the wobbly calf discovering her world (and her trunk). Which is the only way the public can see her, for now. Visitors won’t be allowed until the baby bonds with the rest of the elephant family, and Rose-Tu is “comfortable and calm” with humans around.

In the meantime, enjoy the photos and videos they’ve posted; they’re great for a good chuckle. (Photos: Oregon Zoo)