Basel Zoo expects a stillbirth among the African elephants
Published: Thursday, Dec 14th 2023, 11:10
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The pregnancy of Basel elephant Heri is unlikely to have a happy ending. Basel Zoo assumes that the foetus died in the mother's womb, as it announced on Thursday.
Even after the death of the bull elephant Tusker due to illness in August - he had to be put down because of tuberculosis - the Basel Zoo remained confident that his child would see the light of day around the turn of the year. This would have been the first elephant birth in Basel for 31 years, according to the zoo.
According to a press release, the zoo must now assume that the calf died in its mother's womb. There are no longer any signs of life in the calf.
The 47-year-old elephant Heri is in a critical condition and is currently receiving intensive care, the statement continues. The Zolli veterinary team had previously tried several times, but without success, to induce the birth with labor-inducing drugs. Active birth assistance, such as a caesarean section, is not possible with elephants.
The elephant house will be temporarily closed to the public.
©Keystone/SDA
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