Albuquerque Celebrates New Elephant Calf; Baby ‘Jazmine’ Healthy and Learning Fast under Care of Mother, Grandmother and Sister
Albuquerque, NM (PRWEB) November 06, 2013 -- A one-month-old Asian elephant named ‘Jazmine’ is at the heart of celebrations at the ABQ BioPark Zoo in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She was born at 12:37 a.m. on Oct. 2, 2013. Zoo guests threw an elephant baby shower on Nov. 2, donating gifts and dollars toward her care. Last week, the animal care team was recognized for service beyond the call of duty in the days leading up to the calf’s birth.
The calf is part of a unique multi-generation herd that includes her mother Rozana (Rozie), grandmother Alice and four-year-old sister Daizy. An unrelated female, Irene, is also part of the herd. Jazmine’s father Samson and Albert, another young male, can be seen in yards adjacent to the females.
Jazmine is the third elephant born in New Mexico. In 1992, Rozie was the first elephant born at the ABQ BioPark Zoo and she gave birth to Daizy, her first calf, in 2009.
Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) are endangered with only 40,000 left in the wild. The ABQ BioPark participates in the Elephant Species Survival Plan (SSP), which is managed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The SSP boosts elephant reproduction efforts and promotes genetic diversity to build a self-sustaining elephant population in North America.
“We’re proud to be part of elephant conservation through our breeding program,” said Rick Janser, BioPark Director. “Our diverse herd represents how elephants socialize in the wild, living in groups and raising calves together. It has been a pleasure watching the herd grow, and they have become beloved residents in Albuquerque. These elephants show how conservation programs can help ensure a future for endangered species.”
The ABQ BioPark is an accessible facility and a division of the Cultural Services Department, City of Albuquerque, Richard J. Berry, Mayor. For more information, visit abqbiopark.com or call (505) 768-2000. High res video available via Dropbox: http://bit.ly/ABQelephantvideo.
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Megan Mayo Ryan, Albuquerque CVB, http://www.ItsATrip.org, 505-222-4349, [email protected]
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