Latest news from Tully Johns, elephant keeper
November 27, 2009

Dokkoon has been pregnant now for over 20 months!
She's looking really relaxed, healthy and she's in great physical shape. The birth can happen pretty much any time in the next 2 months and we're doing daily blood tests to monitor her hormone levels. When her progesterone level drops by about half then that's the early sign of labour beginning and she could give birth anytime in the days following.

Dokkoon's day-to-day routine is much the same as it has been throughout the pregnancy with lots of stretching exercises and walking to keep her fit and flexible. This is important to give her the best chance of a successful birth.

The barn and paddocks are all in readiness for the baby calf arrival and us keepers have started working back late at night and early mornings so the elephants get used to our presence at odd hours. This is important as elephants are most likely to give birth in the very early hours of the morning and we want Dokkoon to be as relaxed as possible with our presence so we can support throughout the birthing process.

So it's lots of sleepless nights ahead for us keepers as we eagerly await the arrival of Melbourne Zoo's first ever baby elephant! 

By the way, you can see the latest video updates here.