Elephant “Semba” is Expecting!
The Zoo recently received the results of a urinary hormone test confirming that 24-year-old female African elephant “Semba” is pregnant. Semba was observed breeding with the Zoo’s bull, “Mabu,” in October of last year, and Zoo staff have been anxious to find out whether the breeding was successful. It was!
Elephants have a long gestation period — 21-23 months, and Semba is expected to give birth between late June and August of 2014. In the meantime Reid Park Zoo Staff will be working with fellow experts at San Diego Zoo Global and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Elephant Taxon Advisory Group to monitor Semba and provide the best pre-natal care possible.
This birth will be Semba’s third. Her first two offspring, 6-year-old male “Punga” and 2 1/2-year-old male “Sundzu” also live at Reid Park Zoo, along with unrelated 24-year old female “Lungile.”
