The Columbus Zoo welcomed a precious new addition to its family late Tuesday night, October 21st, a male baby elephant! They even captured his very first moments with his mom on camera. It\u2019s pure joy to watch!<\/p>\n
Mom Phoebe began showing signs of labor earlier that evening, so the elephant care team kept a close eye on her. Around 10:18 p.m., they suspected she might be getting close to giving birth, though there was still a chance it could be a false alarm. But less than 20 minutes later, it was clear she was indeed in labor and pushing, and by 10:41 p.m., her beautiful baby boy had arrived!<\/p>\n
The Zoo’s<\/a> sweet video is giving us all the feels! Seeing mom and baby touch trunks<\/a> for the first time was such a special moment to witness!<\/p>\n Related: Sweet Baby Elephant Learning How to Use Her Trunk Will Make Anyone\u2019s Day<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc36<\/a>SIGN UP to get \u201cpawsitivity\u201d delivered right to your inbox with inspiring & entertaining stories about our furry & feathered friends<\/strong><\/a>\ud83d\udc3e\ud83d\udc3e<\/a><\/p>\n More About Columbus Zoo’s New Baby Boy Elephant<\/p>\n The Zoo shared more details about the new baby elephant in the video’s caption.<\/p>\n “In the late hours of October 21, 2025, Asian elephant Phoebe gave birth to a healthy calf in the elephant habitat\u2019s designated birthing space behind the scenes. Weighing in at 222 pounds at birth, both baby and Mom are doing well and are under the watchful care of the Animal Care and Conservation Medicine teams.<\/p>\n Phoebe began showing signs of labor on October 21, and, as an experienced and confident mother, handled the birth with ease. Her care team had spent months proactively training with her to prepare for this moment, ensuring everything went smoothly when the time came.<\/p>\n Phoebe is continuing to show strong maternal instincts, nurturing her sixth calf with gentle care and attentiveness. To give them time to rest and bond, Mom and baby<\/a> are currently behind the scenes and not yet viewable to the public. The newborn is staying close to Mom, finding its footing, and discovering the world with every tiny step.<\/p>\n The new calf<\/a> joins a dynamic herd at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium that includes mom Phoebe, Johnson, Rudy, Frankie, Sunny, and her calf, Rita Jean, who was born on July 23, 2025. The father, Sabu, resides at the Cincinnati Zoo and also sired Rita Jean, making the two calves half-siblings. The baby\u2019s introductions to the rest of the herd<\/a> have already begun and have been going well.<\/p>\n This birth marks an extraordinary milestone for the Columbus Zoo and the Central Ohio community, with two elephant calves born at the Zoo in the same year\u2014a first in the Zoo\u2019s history of almost 100 years. It\u2019s part of a coordinated effort through the Species Survival Plan\u00ae (SSP), led by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), which works to support healthy, genetically diverse populations of threatened and endangered species in professional care.”<\/p>\n We can’t wait to see more of the new little one and watch him explore the world. Congrats to Phoebe and the Columbus Zoo!<\/p>\n This story was originally reported by PetHelpful<\/a> on Oct 24, 2025, where it first appeared in the Pet News<\/a> section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.<\/a><\/p>\n