Baby elephant making first public appearance

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium’s newest elephant will be making her public debut beginning this week.
Visitors will be able to get a glimpse of the calf daily from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as she plays and sometimes sleeps in the elephant family room.

The Zoo wants visitors to understand that viewing of the calf will also be contingent upon how she is feeling or doing that day. 

“We are very excited to be able to provide visitors with a chance to get a look at the new calf,” says Dr. Barbara Baker, President & CEO of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. “The little calf’s health and welfare is our top priority.  We want to ensure that she will be comfortable being in the family room with more people and movement outside of the exhibit.  She is still very young and there may be days when she isn’t feeling up to it or she may behave differently and we want to ensure that she remains healthy, so each day we will make the decision on whether or not she will be available for viewing.”

The Zoo suggests that visitors check the Zoo’s website to find out if the baby will be available on a particular day.

PITTSBURGH ZOO WEBSITE: http://www.pittsburghzoo.org/

At five weeks old, the little calf is doing well. Her appetite is growing and she is now drinking up to 16 pints every day. 

Her feedings are a mixture of milk from one of the other African elephants in the Zoo’s herd, and African elephant milk replacement formula to provide the right balance of proteins and nutrients. 

The calf is very curious and loves to investigate when she takes a daily walk through the barn with the keepers for exercise.