A 32-year-old Asian elephant gave birth to a calf last Saturday in southwest China's Yunnan Province. This is the third offspring of the elephant called Ping Zai.

The baby elephant Jiu Mei, which literally means "the ninth sister," is in good health, according to the Asian Elephant Breeding and Rescue Center where Ping Zai lives. She is 94 centimeters tall and weighs 85 kilograms.

The calf stood to her feet just 40 minutes after being born, and was nursed for the first time two hours and 15 minutes later. The center is closely monitoring the newborn's health.

Ping Zai got pregnant in April 2018. She was carefully looked after by the keepers of the center during the 693-day gestation. During the COVID-19 outbreak, the staff strengthened the disinfection of the breeding center and gave special care to the mother-to-be.

Located in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, a popular tourist destination in China, the Asian Elephant Breeding and Rescue Center was established in November 2008 to carry out artificial breeding research and rescue injured and sick wild elephants. A total of nine elephants were bred at the center since its establishment, and another 11 rescued are now receiving rehabilitation training here.

(Cover image: A keeper of the Yunnan Asian Elephant Breeding and Rescue Center measures the newborn elephant. /Credit to Yunnan Asian Elephant Breeding and Rescue Center)

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