The Sedgwick County Zoo has announced that two female African elephants are pregnant.
Routine blood tests confirmed the pregnancies for elephants Simunye and Talia, and they are about four months along. Elephants have a 22-month pregnancy, so zoo officials said they are preparing for an exciting spring of 2025.
Simunye last gave birth to a calf nearly 15 years ago and Talia will be a first-time mom. Zoo officials said there are risks in the early phases but they are cautiously optimistic and looking forward to providing more updates from the elephant care team.
The pregnancies are significant for the sustainability of African elephants in North America. The elephants face challenges in the wild, so every birth in an accredited zoo is important for the future of the species.
