Columbus Zoo Welcomes First Asian Elephant Calf of 2025

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium recently celebrated the birth of a healthy female Asian elephant calf weighing 215 pounds, born to 16-year-old first-time mother Sunny after a 22-month pregnancy. Both mother and calf are doing well and are currently behind the scenes bonding, with updates on public viewing and naming to be announced later. This birth marks the first of two expected elephant arrivals this year, with another calf due from 38-year-old Phoebe in the fall. The calf’s father, Sabu, resides at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. The zoo emphasizes this birth as a significant milestone in their ongoing commitment to Asian elephant conservation, addressing the species' sustainability crisis due to habitat loss and poaching. The birth is part of a collaborative effort under the Species Survival Plan coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.