Vienna, Austria - November 06, 2025 A two-and-a-half-month-old elephant calf at Schönbrunn Zoo is enchanting both visitors and its herd. “The young elephant is now with the entire herd. The calf brings variety to everyone and strengthens the bond between the animals,” said Zoo Director Dr. Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck. One elephant cow, born at the zoo in 2003, has become a patient “aunt,” playing frequently with the little one. The calf often stays under her belly or walks alongside her while the mother takes a break. Herd life keeps him busy; he is constantly exploring stones, sand dunes, and the entire enclosure, and hardly sleeps during the day. At birth, the calf weighed just over 100 kilograms. Now, he regularly steps on the scales. Two weeks ago, he weighed 195 kilograms, gaining about one kilogram per day. He still has a long way to go to reach his father’s impressive 4.6 tons. Curious and playful, he is learning to use his trunk, touching surroundings and other herd members. “The little elephant is still being nursed, but he’s already carrying small branches around the enclosure. He can even scoop up water with his trunk and squirt it into his mouth,” said zookeeper Hannah Bartunek. He has already built trust with the zookeeper team, pricking up his ears and allowing himself to be touched—an important step for future medical training.