Sunny, an Asian elephant at the Columbus Zoo, welcomed her first calf on Wednesday, weighing 215 pounds.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium announced the first of two highly anticipated elephant births this year.
The 16-year-old Asian elephant Sundara, nicknamed Sunny, welcomed her first baby, weighing 215 pounds, into the world at 4:26 a.m. on Wednesday. The female calf was born after Sunny began showing early signs of labor, concluding a 22-month pregnancy.
The baby has not been named yet.
The zoo said Sunny is already showing strong maternal instincts as the calf is nursing, bonding with her mom and beginning to explore her habitat.
The Animal Care and Conservation Medicine teams are closely monitoring Sunny and her calf, according to the zoo. The two will also meet other members of the herd.
Phoebe — a 38-year-old experienced mother and long-time member of the herd — is also expecting a calf this fall.
“This is an incredibly special moment for our entire team and community,” said Tom Schmid, president and CEO of the Columbus Zoo and The Wilds. “Welcoming Sunny’s calf is an exciting milestone and an important step forward in our ongoing commitment to the conservation of Asian elephants. Every birth brings hope and reminds us why this work matters for the future of their species.”
Sunny lives in the zoo’s Asia Quest region with her 23-year-old sister Rudy, Phoebe, Phoebe’s son Frankie and 24-year-old Johnson. The baby’s father, Sabu, resides at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden and spent time at the Columbus Zoo during a temporary stay.
Sunny and Phoebe’s pregnancies are part of a collaborative effort under the Species Survival Plan, a program coordinated by The Association of Zoos and Aquariums to support endangered species.
Updates about public viewing opportunities, naming plans and other baby milestones will be shared as details become available, the zoo said.
This article was published by Melina Nguyen on 2025-07-25 07:53:00
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