Endangered Asian elephant calf born at Whipsnade Zoo brings conservation hope

Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire has welcomed a tiny new arrival — an endangered Asian elephant calf, born after a 22-month wait.

Mum Donna gave birth late at night, supported by her own mother Kaylee and daughter Nang Phaya. CCTV footage shows the wobbly newborn getting to his feet within ten minutes, surrounded by his caring herd.

The 110kg baby boy is a vital addition to the European breeding programme for Asian elephants, a species threatened by habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict in the wild.

Stefan Groeneveld, Whipsnade's elephant section manager, said the birth represents "real hope for the future of the species". The calf arrived in ZSL's 200th anniversary year, making the moment even more special.

The public can now help name the little one through a prize draw, with all donations supporting elephant care at Whipsnade and ZSL's global conservation work in Thailand, where teams use wildlife technology to protect these incredible animals and work with local communities.

Visitors can spot the calf at the Centre for Elephant Care alongside 11,000 other animals.