Zürich, Switzerland - April 20, 2025 A male elephant calf was born at Zurich Zoo on Saturday night. Nineteen-year-old elephant Farha gave birth without complications. The birth happened at 2:22 a.m. at the Kaeng Krachan Elephant Park. The calf’s father is 20-year-old bull elephant Thai. Farha began showing signs of labor on Thursday. The contractions intensified on Friday, and the calf was born quickly during the night. The calf stood and drank shortly after birth, which is a positive sign. Farha immediately took care of her newborn. Zoo Director Severin Dressen said they are happy but cautious. The first weeks of a calf’s life are delicate. The zoo will continue to monitor the situation closely. This is the first successful elephant birth at Zurich Zoo in five years. If all continues well, the group with cows Farha and Panang will grow by one more member. The birth is good news for the critically endangered Asian elephant species. Wild populations are shrinking. Zurich Zoo is part of the European Endangered Species Breeding Program (EEP) for Asian elephants. The zoo is committed to conservation efforts both locally and internationally. Farha gave birth separately from Panang to avoid any risks. The two elephants maintained visual and trunk contact during the birth. This was Farha’s fourth birth. The zoo’s protected environment allows elephants to live naturally, with limited human intervention. The Asian elephant has a gestation period of almost two years. Successful births are rare, making this event even more special. Zurich Zoo has been supporting conservation efforts in Thailand’s Kaeng Krachan National Park since 2009. These efforts help protect the remaining wild elephant populations.