WATCH: Pregnant elephant gets ultrasound at Fresno Chaffee Zoo
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – The two pregnant elephants at Fresno Chaffee Zoo are continuing to do well as staff monitor the calves’ development. In a video released Tuesday by the Fresno Chaffee Zoo, staff can be seen ensuring the baby elephants’ trunks are growing as expected.
The Zoo’s two female elephants Nolwazi and Amahle have been pregnant since late summer of 2022. Elephants can be pregnant for as long as 22 months. Staff reviewing the ultrasound can be seen in the video above.
Baby elephants to be born for 1st time ever at Fresno Chaffee Zoo
“I truly feel like I’m living a childhood dream,” said Fresno Chaffee Zoo Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Audrey Siegrist. “It’s surprising how similar we are, we look for the same type of shapes you would see in a human ultrasound for pregnancy. In addition to looking for a heartbeat just how you would a human baby but instead, we see a trunk and two large ears.”
Zoo staff say the birth of the two elephant calves would be the first in the facility’s history.
