An image of an ultrasound of a baby elephant who is yet to be born has gone viral on social media.
According to a recent article by BoredPanda the image in question stems from Asha, a 25-year-old Asian elephant from the Oklahoma City Zoo, who is currently pregnant with a baby.
Take a look at this fascinating video of the ultrasound:Asha is expected to give birth to her fourth baby in February of 2022 after being impregnated by a 51-year-old bull elephant named Rex, with whom she also has two other babies: five-year-old Achara and one-year-old Kairavi (Kai for short).
The Zoo captioned the post:
"A tiny trunk and little legs? This ultrasound is ultra-sweet! The Oklahoma City Zoo is thankful for 25-year-old Asha’s growing Asian elephant calf, due in February 2022 Happy Thanksgiving from the Zoo’s animal family!
Per Oklahoma City Zoo's official website, the zoo is currently home to a grand total of seven Asian elephants: Bamboo, Rex, Asha, Chandra, Kandula, Achara, and Kairavi.
Speaking to BoredPanda, Oklahoma City Zoo’s Curator of Elephants and Rhinos Rachel Emory stated: "Asha is unique in that she is very gentle, patient, and eager to learn. She has raised three calves and is an excellent mother.
"Asha does an incredible job of allowing her calves to explore the Zoo’s elephant habitat and interact with other herd mates, while also always keeping them within her sight."
While you're at it, watch this video all about the birth of Kai back in 2015:According to the site for the environmental and conservational organization Young People's Trust for the Environment, mating season for Asian elephants typically occurs during periods of high rainfall.
New calves are born approximately 22 months after mating - in time for the beginning of the next rainy season when more food is available to them.
Males tend to stick around with their families with the calves grow up, as young elephants are sometimes preyed upon by lions, tigers, and hyenas.
A newborn Asian elephant typically weighs about 100 kilogram grows rapidly for the first few years, which slows for 15 years, before having another growth spurt between the ages of 20 and 30.