Latest news with #Simunye
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Sedgwick County Zoo elephant's pregnancy comes to ‘heartbreaking' end
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The Sedgwick County Zoo's excitement about five elephant pregnancies has been dimmed as one of the pregnancies has ended in a stillbirth. The zoo says 29-year-old African elephant Simunye delivered a stillborn calf on Friday following a healthy, full-term pregnancy. 'The Zoo community, staff, and elephant herd alike are mourning this devastating loss,' the zoo said in a news release. 'This would have marked the first elephant born at Sedgwick County Zoo in its 54-year history.' Simunye had been getting regular prenatal exams. The zoo said everything indicated that both mom and calf were healthy with no sign of complications throughout the entire gestational term. Woman trapped in wreckage along I-70 overnight found Monday The elephant began showing signs of active labor early Thursday morning. The zoo's care team watched remotely to allow for the most natural birthing environment. 'She delivered her calf Friday afternoon and despite her best attempts to assist, it showed no signs of movement,' the zoo said. 'Other members of the herd surrounded Simunye throughout labor, and continued to provide support throughout the night as they grieved the loss together.' The calf, a female, was named Malaika, which means angel in Swahili. 'This is a time of extreme sadness for the entire Zoo family, ' Scott Newland, the zoo's president and CEO, said. 'We were so excited to welcome a new member to the herd, and the entire pregnancy progressed exactly as it should have. Unfortunately, though, not all pregnancies end in healthy births, and we don't always get an answer as to why.' A necropsy determined that the calf died during the birthing process. The zoo has kept the community informed of the various stages of the five elephants' pregnancies, even sharing a video of the baby kicking Simunye's side. Simunye was due first. She was the only expectant elephant who has given birth before. Talia, Xolani, Arusi, and Zuberi are all pregnant with their first offspring and are due between spring and fall. 'We know the deep connection our community has with our elephant herd, and we are grateful for your compassion, understanding, and support as we navigate this difficult time,' Newland said. 'The team remains committed to providing the very best physical and emotional care for Simunye, as well as the rest of the herd as they process this unexpected loss.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Sedgwick County Zoo elephant now at home in Atlanta
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Titan, one of the Sedgwick County Zoo's longtime elephants, is now at home at Zoo Atlanta. According to Zoo Atlanta, he arrived today. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums' African Elephant Species Survival Plan recommended that he move to a new herd, which mirrors what adult male elephants do in the wild. Titan's mother, Simunye, will remain at Sedgwick County Zoo. They both arrived in Kansas in 2016 after being rescued from drought-stricken Eswatini. Zoo Atlanta says Titan will be a valuable social companion among the elephant group, which includes adult male Msholo and adult females Kelly and Tara, both now considered post-reproductive. While Sedgwick County Zoo prepares for 5 new elephants, 1 is leaving 'We are very excited to welcome Titan to the elephant herd at Zoo Atlanta, where he will benefit from the daily stewardship of a world-class Elephant Care Team and an environment that represents the most significant transformation in Zoo Atlanta history,' said Raymond B. King, President and CEO. 'Our hope is that in getting to know Titan as he becomes a new part of the herd here at the Zoo, our Members and guests will have renewed reasons to join us in protecting African elephants, which have a very uncertain future without conservation action.' Titan will spend the next several weeks acclimating before he will be visible to members and guests of the zoo. Meanwhile, the Sedgwick County Zoo is preparing for the birth of five elephants and shared video of Arusi's growing calf and heartbeat. The Zoo says they won't know if Titan was the father of any of the calves until after they are born. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
