Indianapolis Zoo announces what is expected to be a historic birth

The Indianapolis Zoo is expecting a special delivery this fall.

Sixteen-year-old African elephant Zahara is 15-months along in her 22-month pregnancy.

Curator of Primates and Elephants, Tim Littig said Zahara’s pregnancy is unique.

“Zahara is a really big deal for us and as far as we know she is the first African elephant that was conceived via artificial insemination to also be having a calf that was conceived via artificial insemination,” Littig said.

Zahara’s calf is due in early October.

“She'll be a first-time mother. So, although she's been exposed to many calves in her life, she's never had one of her own,” Littig said. “We have a medical team here at the zoo, of course, with very experienced veterinarians. We monitor her reproductive health as we go through the process. We've been doing regular ultrasounds to monitor the fetal development of a calf and that all looks fantastic.”

The calf will complete a third generation in the herd at the zoo. Zahara’s mother, Ivory, is 41 years old.

Zahara is the youngest elephant in the zoo’s herd of five.