Planckendael animal park expects two more elephant babies

Kai-Mook, the baby elephant born in Antwerp Zoo in 2009 to the delight of the entire country, will soon become a big sister – and an aunt – animal park Planckendael announced yesterday. One birth is expected to take place next spring, the other next summer. An elephant gestation lasts between 18 and 22 months.

The mothers are Kai-Mook’s mother, Khaing Phyo Phyo, and Khaing Phyo Phyo’s daughter (Kai-Mook’s half-sister), May Tagu, who is now nine years old. It is May Tagu’s first baby, and Phyo Phyo’s fifth. Rumour has it that May Tagu is in line to give birth first. Baby elephants weigh about 100 kilograms.

Kai-Mook was born at Antwerp Zoo five years ago (pictured) amid a flurry of media attention and a massive surge in visitor numbers. A webcam of the enclosure received tens of thousands of visits in the run-up to the birth.

The elephants now live in a larger habitat in Mechelen’s Planckendael park. They were recently joined by bull elephant Chang from Copenhagen, who is the father of both babies.

photo courtesy Frank Wouters/Wikimedia