Baby African Elephant Born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom for the First Time in 7 Years

The 218-pound newborn, named Corra, is also the first second-generation calf to be born at the Orlando theme park

A baby elephant recently made a grand entrance at Walt Disney World!

The newborn, named Corra, is the first African elephant calf to be born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in seven years, according to a blog post penned by Walt Disney Parks’ director of animal and science operations, Scott Terrell.

The mammal was born Dec. 13, a TikTok shared by Disney Parks said.

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Corra’s mom, Nadirah, was also born at Animal Kingdom eight years ago, making Corra not only her first baby, but also the very first second-generation calf born in the Orlando, Florida, theme park, per Terrell.

After a 22-month pregnancy, Nadirah and her 218-pound calf, are already bonding and will continue to do so for several days, before joining the rest of the park’s herd, the director said.

For Nadirah, who became pregnant in early 2022, raising Corra will not be a solo act, Terrell adds.

In fact, the second she began labor, caring for the newborn became a family affair, as the first-time mom’s sister, Luna, helped guide her through the birth.

Corra will soon meet the rest of her family — her grandma, Donna, and other aunt, Stella — the blog post said.

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According to Terrell, it is “common for adult females in the herd to assist in raising young elephants until they are considered to be independent, typically around 8 years old.”

“Meaning, these family bonds will only grow stronger as the calf gets older,” he added.

The director also said that the newborn has so far been “bringing plenty of joy” to her Disney family, namely the theme park’s animal care team.

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At Animal Kingdom, births of African elephants — who the World Wildlife Fund lists as a “critically endangered” species — are given special attention.

Terrell said they are “carefully planned through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan,” a program that “helps ensure the responsible breeding of endangered animals in managed care."

The careful care continues after birth, with ongoing post-natal exams for both mother and daughter, as well as careful monitoring — to ensure things like “successful nursing and weight gain” during their bonding period, per the blog post.

And while Corra marked an important park milestone with her birth alone, the director promises that park staff will continue to share her personal milestones, as well as sweet moments between the newborn and her mother.

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