Baby African elephant in 'guarded condition' with serious medical issues, Pittsburgh Zoo says

An African elephant born in July at the Pittsburgh Zoo’s International Conservation Center in Somerset County is in “guarded condition,” the zoo announced Wednesday.

The female elephant, born July 18, has developed several serious medical conditions, including not gaining enough weight, the zoo said in a statement. Overall, the ailments put its overall health at risk.

The calf was the first for its mother, Sukuri, and was the result of natural breeding with the resident bull elephant, Jackson.

At birth, the calf was just under 3 feet tall and weighed 218 pounds. The zoo said Sukuri had no issues during pregnancy and was “very attentive” to its newborn.

The calf is nursing from its mother, and both are getting supervised, ‘round-the-clock care. The zoo says its animal health team is consulting with elephant veterinary experts to ensure the calf gets the best course of treatment.

The calf received a plasma transfusion over the weekend to address some of the medical concerns and responded positively, the zoo said. However, its overall health remains at a critical stage.

“We are very concerned but hopeful about the calf’s prospect for recovery,” said Dr. Joe Gaspard, director of animal health, science and conservation for the zoo. “She has several serious medical conditions that are actively being treated, but she is proving to be a fighter.”

The calf cannot be seen by the general public at the conservation center.