Baby elephant 'Corra' born at Disney's animal kingdom theme park

NEW DELHI: Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park in Florida welcomed a new member of their family last week. The first “second generation” African elephant calf, weighing "218 pounds" named Corra was born recently, New York Post reported. Scott Terrell, DVM, DACVP, director of Animal & Science Operations, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts said that "Corra" was the first elephant calf to be born at Walt Disney World in seven years.Surprisingly, Corra's mother Nadirah was also born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, back in 2005 — meaning Corra’s arrival was “extra special,” said Terrell, writing in the Disney Parks blog. Nadirah was a first-time mother, so “her sister Luna was there to guide her and comfort her throughout the process,” he said. “The calf will soon get to meet her grandma, Donna, and her other aunt, Stella, too,” said Terrell. According to Terrell, female African elephants frequently assist one another in raising their young until the elephant calf is around eight years old.“These family bonds will only grow stronger as the calf gets older,” he said. Nadirah was pregnant with Corra for 22 months — the typical gestation period for African elephants.She conceived Corra by natural breeding in early 2022, Terrell indicated, and “received special care from our animal care team” for the duration of her pregnancy, as per the New York Post.“It takes a team of dedicated cast members to care for a pregnant elephant and eventually, her newborn calf,” he added.With Corra’s arrival, she and her mother will undergo continued post-natal exams and spend several days bonding before they are ready to join the rest of the herd. The pair will be observed to ensure the calf can nurse successfully and is gaining weight.