Excellent news about Janita
The first one to whom I confided this excellent news was the editor of Sri Lanka newspaper The Island. I felt it was most proper to publish it first on Janita´s home island and only then in our country.
Photo: Tomáš Adamec, Prague Zoo
Yes, that´s right: Janita, the elephant cow, is pregnant!
We can look forward for another elephant calf in Prague. The first one was born to Donna, who, however, arrived in an advanced stage of pregnancy. Therefore Janita´s descendant could become the first really 100% Prague calf. It would be another milestone in more than 80 year-long history of our zoological garden.
When writing about Janita´s calf, which should be born in spring next year, I deliberately use the conditional. The success rate of rearing in case of elephant primiparas is about one half, whether in the wild or in captivity. Thus we will still experience a lot of tension and insecurity.
However, this should not spoil our happiness from Janita´s pregnancy. When we were bringing her together with Tamara from Sri Lanka by army Hercules in autumn 2012, this was what we were hoping for - that both the young elephant cows would become mothers in our Zoo. In Janita´s case the hope has started to come true.
Finally, I have to apologize to Mekong. It was he, who - in spite of his reputation - braced up after the arrival of the new male Ankhor and showed his sympathy to Janita, with very unexpected, but for all of that, even more praiseworthy results.
Miroslav Bobek, Director, Prague Zoo
ZOOPRAHA.CZ
Contacts
- The Prague zoological garden
U Trojskeho zamku 120/3
171 00 Praha 7
Phone.: (+420) 296 112 230 (public relations department)
e-mail: zoopraha@zoopraha.cz
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