Tragic zoo death of two baby elephants inside of a month leaves workers heartbroken

Blackpool Zoo staff have sadly reported the loss of two baby Asian elephants this autumn. The heartbroken zoo workers revealed that one baby died in utero, while another passed away earlier this month after its mother was unable to feed it.

The elephants, a mother and daughter pair named Noorjahan and Esha, have resided at the zoo since 2018, having moved from Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire. Earlier this year, the staff were thrilled to announce the elephants' pregnancies as part of their project to conserve and breed the endangered Asian Elephant.

However, in a statement released today, the zoo confirmed that both females had given birth this autumn, but tragically, their babies did not survive. Noorjahan's calf did not fully develop and died in the womb, a fact only discovered when she went into labour and delivered the calf naturally in September.

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Staff reported that Esha gave birth in the early hours of November 4, surrounded by the herd, after a full-term pregnancy. However, it soon became apparent that rearing a newborn was proving difficult for Esha, who would not allow the calf to suckle, reports the Mirror.

The protective herd then prevented zookeepers from approaching the calf for 24 hours. Despite these challenges, a round-the-clock care schedule was established, and staff managed to obtain enough feed for the calf from Esha and plasma from Noorjahan.

However, the calf began to experience seizures a couple of days after birth and continued to decline before passing away on November 7, according to the statement. A post-mortem examination revealed that the calf had developed an infection due to missing essential nutrients and vitamins from colostrum in its early hours.

Adam Kenyon from the zoo stated: "As elephants are extremely intelligent animals and will mourn the loss, we are continuing to monitor them all closely. The relationships developed between our elephant care team and the elephants themselves are truly extraordinary.

"Without this level of dedication and commitment, we would not be able to provide the optimal levels of care we strive for at Blackpool Zoo. We are immensely grateful to the team, knowing that we did everything possible to try to save the calf, and wish to thank them for their huge efforts.

"We hope that everyone will respect our team during this difficult time."

Asian elephants have been classified as endangered since 1986, with their population estimated to have decreased by at least 50% over the last three generations. In response, Blackpool Zoo has initiated Project Elephant, focusing on the long-term management, breeding, and welfare needs of its elephants.

The zoo has also launched its largest single investment, featuring the UK's largest indoor elephant house and multiple outdoor habitats to cater to the complex needs of Asian elephants.