You know those cute shirts that stores sell for infants and toddlers? The ones that say things like, “Grandma loves me,” or “Don’t blame me, blame my brother!” I think I know which one would seem appropriate for our newest elephant calf at the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park: “Here comes trouble!”
This “little” guy may be the youngest, but as the largest calf born to the Park herd, he is quickly catching up to half-brother Lutsandvo, the male calf born on Valentine’s Day of this year (see post Newest Elephant Calf). I was at the exhibit the other day and could not believe how feisty he is! Watching him play with Lutsandvo was like watching a couple of preschoolers play King of the Mountain. The newest calf didn’t stop there, either. Later, he challenged Ingadze, his half-brother born in March 2009. This baby seemed to be interested in playing with any of the other young elephants in the area.
It will be interesting to watch him as he grows to see how long his behavior is tolerated by the other elephants. If you haven’t had a chance to see his shenanigans yet, plan a trip to the Wild Animal Park soon!
Karen Wiese is an interpretive writer for the San Diego Zoo.
OK, now what’s SiSwati for “Cute Bit of Trouble”?
This April 12th calf needs a name—and FAST!! Sounds like he will be the feistiest little calf out of all of them, and he’ll take the title for that until the third calf is born in June or July. I agree with Mark—what is the Siswati name for “Cute Bit of Trouble”? He sure has the personality for that name! He also can have a name that fits his size and weight—312 pounds already!? WOW!!! He will be a big bruser some day! Look out, Moose! Moose’s title of big bruser maybe coming to an end soon!
Keep us updated about Umoya and her upcoming birth of her calf, ok? Love the 2 articles about the April 12 calf; they were fun to read!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
Thanks Karen for sharing this cute update with us. I think the little guy is doing what most youngsters his age does- messing up and totally having a ball… like his toddler human counterparts.
So is he being spoiled by his mother? Is he allowed to be so feisty because no one will correct him because of his mom’s standing in the herd?
How lucky SDZ is for having all these baby elephants!! Does this “boldness” indicate a dominance trait that will show up as he matures? SDZ won’t be able to keep all of these males, right? Will they be traded to other zoos?
I like the name suggestion as well..
Ha ha
Is there going to be a contest to name him? What type of name does it have to be?
Thank you for the update on our newest addition — could his “take on all comers” behavior be related to his mother’s role as matriarch? I can hardly wait to see him and his playmates.
I’m suggesting Ng’ombe (“bullock”) or Kubwang’ombe (“great bullock”). It may be siSwati but it’s definitely kiSwahili.
Lungile is adorable. Such a sweet Auntie. I sure hope she gets a calf of her own. So sad she lost her first.
We were there on the 13th and got to see the new calf-too cute-my wife was enthralled! But we heard that the Mama hadn’t dropped the afterbirth yet and the employees were a little concerned. Any word on the Mama and the afterbirth and is she ok??My wife is way worried.
Moderator’s note: Thank you for your interest. As the baby was born at night we are not sure whether the placenta was passed or not. Animal care staff are closely monitoring both mom and baby and they currently appear to be doing fine.
I think he sounds adorable. A little bit of something very cute!
I have heard some rumors that Umoya had her calf on May 13 (another male) and that Samba is pregnant and due in February… can this please please please be confirmed?
Moderator’s note: Much to our delight, Umoya had a boy on May 13! Mother and calf are doing well. We expect another deliver from the VERY big stork later this year.
I remember my son used to wear a tshirt says “Here Comes Trouble” on it when he was very young.
I Hope I can visit WAP and see the newest elephant calf soon…He looks so cute in the picture!!
Moderator’s note: Hope you can visit soon, too! He’s even cuter in person, but then, I’m biased!
Oh another baby. When will pictures/video be posted?
Moderator’s note: We’re working on it!
“Moderator’s note: Much to our delight, Umoya had a boy on May 13!”
TWO nameless babies at once? OK, I’ll call them April Baby and May Baby until further notice.
“Mother and calf are doing well. We expect another deliver from the VERY big stork later this year.”
Since Calvin heard February and you’re saying later this year, my guess is that Litsemba’s due close to the end of the year, Nov/Dec. How close did I guess?
Why doesn’t the WAP keep the elephants in the habitat that alone is larger than the San Diego Zoo?
I hope I’m not tedius.
February, April and May. Three boys….look out!!!
Oh goodness. LOL. It looks like a Kinder playground out on the yard:)
Awesome! I hadn’t heard the 3rd calf had been born yet. I’m excited because I’ll be at WAP next Friday. Hopefully the 3 boys will be nice and active, playing King of the Mountain. I’ve seen the younger whales playing it at Sea World, but never elephants.
Well, will wonders never cease!! I found out late last nite reading some of the panda page comments that Umoya had her little baby boy elephant calf on May 13—my sister’s birthday! WOW!!!! What a surprise!! I thought that Umoya was not going to have her calf until around late June/early July. And then, I found out that Litsemba is pregnant and expecting her calf sometime later this year, probably around November or December. Four calves in one year?!? That’s got to be a record for SDZ WAP’s elephant heard! You all will be seeing about 20 elephants in this heard by the end of this year! Mabu has been a very busy daddy in the last couple of years! A very proud daddy! I loved the story about Mabu and one of the calves trying to nurse off of him, and he had that shocked look on his face, then he waited for one of the moms to come and rescue him! That was pretty funny! Congrats to Umoya on her new second baby calf and to all of the ellie keepers at WAP! Have fun with the nursery and kindergarten classes!!
Will keep checking the ellie cam to catch the calves! Luv them all!!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
2-14-2010 Lutsandvo, 4-12-2010 baby Swazi, and 5-13-2010 baby Moya are the 3 boys born at the WAP so far this year. Saw all of them yesterday. Lutsandvo and baby Swazi were typical boys who were having great fun out in the field, pushing, shoving, rolling, and climbing on each other, both in the dusty yard and especially in the grass out in the field. Baby Moya strayed from mom one time and walked (and slid) down the fence line toward the gate (inside the yard) and then did nearly the same thing as he climbed back up to mom. Got them all on video. Had a great time and want the keepers and staff to know that all the hard work they do, especially cleaning up after their wards, is really appreciated by all the visitors to the park. Again, many, many thanks to all involved.
May I ask what Lutsandvo is called by the staff? The name is beautiful but it is a mouthful. Surely he must have a nickname. I have been calling him Sweets (re Valentine’s Day birth) but I think he needs a more masculine name.
Also, have you observed any mating between Mabu and Lungile? Would the zoo prefer Msholo to father her next offspring?
How about a new update under “BIG FUN AT THE WILD ANIMAL PARK” to add the birth date of Moya’s son on 5-13-2010?
Hello again. I would just like to congratulate Mrs. Sweet One, Mrs. Fearful Leader, and Mrs. Spitfire for having Three Musketeers! I would also like to say good luck to The Drama Queen for her expected arrival!
I’ve got a song in my mind to the tune of “Here Come the Hawks,” “Here Comes the Trio!”:
“Here comes the boys, the mighty Musketeers!
They’re big trouble, so you,
Watch out little ones!
They’re on our minds, so,
Let us show we care!
Adopt one, two, or three!
Now all adore!
Here comes the boys! ***three times***
Here they come, tramplin’, movin’, doing what boys do,
Awws roaring, Fans adoring, it goes on all day!
And the Trio, takes control, there’s a lunge,
And a fall!”
Let me know what you think, especially the person dubbed as “Grammie Norma.” Thanks!!!
We were visiting the Park on Thursday May 13th and the baby was born the evening before so I do believe that he was born on Wednesday May 12, at least that is what we were told by the Keepers.
Moderator’s note: You are correct. Umoya’s calf was born at 8:16 p.m. May 12.
Have you decided which of the lovely ladies will keep Msholo company?
You can probably tell that I’m jittery, considering the Blackhawks won the Western Conference Finals (sorry, Californians!), AND that I’ve written a song.
By the way, I just saw great footage of one of the calves nursing. Who has longer tusks? Little Miss Spitfire or Big Boss?
Seeya!
Hi there. I’m going through withdrawl for an update on the newest baby. Help!!!
The update under the cam announces the May 12th birth with a link to see Images…but the newest image is the April calf. When will we get to see the newest member of the herd?
Moderator’s note: Thanks for catching the error. We’ll post photos of the newest baby when they become available.
MoyMoy sounds like she’s frustrated having her calf early, they’re always extra work.
is the camera operator there today? Looking at a dry hole in the ground for a bit now.
Moderator’s note: Better now?
is the camera operator there today? Looking at a dry hole in the ground for a bit now.
just looked again- good to go! thanks so much for the ellie updates!
Thanks, camera operator. See camera being moved now.
Is something wrong with the new calf? No updates? #29′s comment?
Public Relations responds: There was a complication surrounding our latest youngster’s birth. Mom and baby appear to be doing fine now but are being closely watched. We hope to have more information directly from the animal care staff soon.
Oh goodness. Prayers for Umoya, her calf and the herd.
The direction that the webcam was aimed all day yesterday and still is this morning only gives a view of Msholo who is quite handsome but only appears occasionally. Perhaps it could be left aimed downfield when no volunteer is available. Please.
Moderator’s note: I’ll see what I can find out.
I wish the elephants had numbers on them so I could tell them apart! LOL! I know Mabu, hard to miss him. Ndlula and Umgani are easy to identify as is Lungile by their tusks or lack thereof. Musi is relatively easily to identify, but now with all the calves, and so many of them, when I see really interesting interactions, I usually can’t tell who is who. I’d enjoy knowing what all those interations mean. Oh, well, I still get a lot of pleasure watching them. Most fascinating animals.
OOOH!! Just read the latest comment from SDZ’s PR team about Umoya and her calf. Hope there is nothing serious going on there with them. I don’t want to see WAP losing another baby ellie calf! We all went thru that scenario when Lungile’s calf had severe medical problems and passed away nearly 2 years ago. Prayers for Umoya and baby!
Was just on the elliecam, and just saw the adult ellies, one of the bigger calves, and the 2 newest baby calves with their moms gathered in front of the pool. Then, they all went off in different directions. Nice to see the April and May babies on the cam!
I have also seen Msholo on the elliecam a couple of times. He looks so lonely without any ellies in there with him to keep him company! Poor guy!! When will the ellie keepers be able to get Msholo in with the other ellies, and will there be a conflict between Msholo and Mabu, the 2 males? Keep us updated about that ok? Also looking for a new update about the April and May baby ellies, and the health of the May baby ellie.
Thanks,
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
PS: We would like to see pics and bio info about the April and May baby elephant calves on the Meet the Elephants page very soon! THX!!
Moderator’s note: The adult bull elephants Mabu and Msholo will always be in separate exhibits to avoid any potential conflict. We’ll add the baby elephants’ bios when they are named
Hi, Moderator! Just read your note under my comment. When do you think you will have new names for the April and May baby ellies? Will we get a chance to vote for names for the 2 baby boys? Hope so! How is everything going with Umoya and her calf in the last few days? Hoping that they are doing better now. Please let us know about them, ok? Will appreciate it alot! Looking for the 2 calves’ bios on Meet the Elephants page as soon as you are able to get them in. Will check the ellie cam later on.
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
Moderator’s note: We should have a calf update soon.
Luts is a little rascal. He has just been running about, bugging everyone! So cute. I bet he get his comeupas.
On http://www.facebook.com/sandiegozoo there is a 95 second video dated April 16, 2010, that shows Swazi and son out in the field with all the other elephants. It is very interesting, informative, and well narrated. If you watch carefully at the end, you will see Lutsandvo nudge Swazi’s son out of the way and he nurses on Swazi instead. At the time, Swazi’s son was 4 days old and Lutsandvo was 2 months old.
It appears to me that Musi is kind of attached to his new little brother. I see them with Ndlula a lot. Am I right?
We brought my 2 nieces (7 & 11) to the WAP 2 weeks ago. They were in love love love with the new babies. I haven’t seen them that excited in a long time. We spent about 1 1/2 hours just watching the new babies and the rest of the herd. Wow, this group is going to run out of room real soon. Any plans to expand ?
I’m very impressed on how well the yard and the grounds are kept clean with so many beautiful animals. The Zoo staff are friendly and very helpful with answering questions from the kids and adults about the newest cutest bundles of just pure joy. Bless you all for your hard work.
Are plans in the works for naming our 2 new babies?????? Thx A.