African Elephants

The Indianapolis Zoo features a mixed herd of African elephants.  In 2012, the herd includes "senior" pachyderm Sophi, adult females Kubwa, Ivory and Tombi, juvenile female Zahara, and juvenile male Kedar.  Kubwa gave birth to her third calf, a female named Kalina, in July 2011.  Ivory gave birth to her third calf, a female named Nyah, in 2012. Teenage male Ajani, the second African elephant in the world to be successfully conceived and born through artificial insemination, left home in early 2011 to become part of a bachelor herd at the Birmingham Zoo.  The timing was excellent, since at ten, almost eleven, years old, Ajani was just at the stage when the females would normally be pushing him out of the herd and out on his own.  Photo of Kalina by Kerrie Best

World-Renown Research in Indianapolis

In 1998, the Indianapolis Zoo was successful in introducing an alternative reproductive technique for elephants. For the first time in the history of the species, two of our adult female African elephants that were artificially inseminated subsequently delivered healthy calves in 2000. Our research subsequently led to the successful insemination of elephants worldwide. Kubwa and Ivory made history again in 2005 and 2006 by becoming the first and second African elephants in the world to successfully conceive and give birth to a calf through artificial insemination for a second time, and then again in 2011 and 2012 with the births of their third calves.  Our breeding program has been a collaborative effort with such colleagues as Germany’s Berlin Institute for Zoo Biology and Wildlife Research and Dr. Dennis Schmitt, veterinary reproductive specialist at Southwest Missouri State University.

In the summer of 2002, the Indianapolis Zoo opened its new African Elephant Preserve with a much larger barn and multiple yards to accommodate our growing herd. The new facility includes space for additional cows (females) as well as adult bulls (males) with plenty of room for training and exercise. The Preserve features grass yards, two pools, a waterfall outside and heated floors inside. This facility allows us to continue with our breeding program and other important research. To observe our elephants on exhibit, click here for the elephant Web cam.

Read more about the world of elephants:
What is an Elephant?
Elephant Anatomy   
Kinships 
Reproduction 
Communication 
Elephants & Humans
African vs. Asian Elephants   

The Zoo's elephants also serve as wonderful ambassadors for their species.  Their charismatic qualities engage Zoo visitors, and summer time daily elephant shows are among the visitors' favorite activities.

Photos by Carla Knapp, Gabi Moore and Kerrie Best