Melbourne Zoo's Dokkoon ready to drop
January 6, 2010 |16:44 | Zoo News By : Team X
The calf is facing head first, which is not ideal for elephants. So mum did a headstand yesterday to try to move the calf to the more favourable posterior, or bottom-first, position.
On hand to watch was elephant expert Dr Thomas Hildebrandt, who had just arrived from Germany. He conducted an ultrasound, raising expectations the birth will happen sooner rather than later.
It showed details such as hair and the calf's head, being about the size of a basketball. Dr Hildebrandt said head-first was not ideal as the baby's head and shoulders were its widest point and would force the mother to push harder.
But he was confident 16-year-old Dokkoon would cope either way, as she was fit, slim and of an ideal age."I'm very positive that we will have a healthy baby," he said. "The elephant has to be very fit for it and I'm very positive about Dokkoon's ability to manage this. She looks perfect."
Dokkoon's progesterone levels, are continuing to fall which means she should enter labour soon. Dr Hildebrandt predicted a birth within three days.
Proving that elephants do have long memories, Dokkoon appeared to recognise him from his previous visits to artificially inseminate her and check on her 22-month pregnancy.
Zoo staff are on red alert. Four elephant keepers are now permanently on the grounds, with two awake and two sleeping in on-site caravans.
The elephant keepers plan to observe the birth via CCTV.
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