The Sedgwick County Zoo is about to expand its animal family with a number of new additions.
Earlier this week, the Wichita, Kansas-based destination announced in a Facebook post that four female elephants are currently in labor.
“We’re announcing some trunk-tastic news!” he wrote the zoo. “The Sedgwick County Zoo is expecting not one, not two, but FOUR additions to our elephant family!”
“Follow updates as their pregnancy progresses and remember that, similar to human pregnancy, there are inherent risks during the early stages,” the organization added. “We remain cautiously optimistic and look forward to sharing updates during this journey.”
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According to the zoo, the first female elephant they are expecting is the “nurturing and protective” Simunya, who is 7 months pregnant with a baby that is currently the size of a papaya. “Independent and sassy” Talia from the zoo is carrying a baby who is now the size of a coconut.
The “cautious and careful” Xolani is 5 months pregnant with a calf the size of a grapefruit, while the “spotlight and foodie” Arusi is 4 months pregnant with a baby the size of an avocado.
The zoo previously teased the exciting news of the animals’ pregnancies in another post, sharing a picture of each of the fetuses before the animals in their enclosure. “We have BIG news! Can anyone guess what each fruit represents?!” the institution wrote in the title.
Elephants at the Sedgwick County Zoo.
Alamy
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African elephants, which are the largest living land animals, have the longest gestation of any living mammal, according to the zoo.
The animals — which weigh about 260 pounds at birth, can grow to 5,000 to 14,000 pounds and live 30 to 55 years — are typically pregnant for an average of 22 months.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education