High Five as baby makes safari park debut

Mother Five gave birth to the male earlier this month at the park close to Bewdley, near the Shropshire border, after a 22-month pregnancy. The African elephant calf, which has not yet been given a name, weighed a healthy 100kg.

His 22-year-old mother gave birth following artificial insemination using semen taken from a wild male. The fluid had been frozen and stored in a French laboratory before being used to fertilise Five's eggs.

The technique was developed at Berlin's Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research. The calf's father is from the privately owned Phinda Reserve in South Africa, and has fathered a female calf born last year via the same method at Vienna Zoo in Austria.

Andy Plumb, West Midland Safari Park's head elephant keeper, said: "This really is fantastic news, the baby is absolutely perfect - just like his mother - and both are fine.

"Five has been well throughout her pregnancy and it has only been during the last few weeks before the birth that she has seemed to be a bit more 'clingy' than usual towards the staff. The birth was an uncomplicated one and Five clearly adores her new baby.

"We are all absolutely over the moon that mom and baby are doing well. It is incredible to think of the worldwide effort that has been put in to produce such a beautiful new baby and that he does actually have a

half-sister. Though of course, it is quite unlikely that their paths will ever cross.

"This really is such a joyful and very special event for everyone involved with West Midland Safari Park. The new baby is a delight."

Along with Five, the safari park is also home to another adult elephant Latabe. They arrived from a reserve in South Africa in 1998 after being orphaned when their mothers were shot.

The trio can be seen at the site's Elephant Valley on most days. But during poor weather the new baby will be kept indoors.

The park, which attracts thousands of visitors every year from across the region, opened 41 years ago.