Trunkline Magazine (Louisville Zoo) December 2018 | Page 12

ZOO NEWS
An Addax Birth
In case you missed it, the Louisville Zoo welcomed
a male Saharan addax calf late this summer in the
early morning on Sunday, August 19. The mother
is addax Patella and the father is named Laird.
This birth marks the 59th calf born here at the
Zoo. Addax have been a part of the Zoo’s collection since it
opened in 1969. They are listed as critically endangered by
the International Union for Conservation of Nature. In 2016,
field researchers estimated that less than 100 individuals
remain in the remnant wild.
You can see our newest addax on exhibit daily with his
group in the African zone.
Mikki Update
Mikki the elephant is over halfway
through her 22-month pregnancy.
Phew.
Keepers are still focused on
managing her weight gain to
facilitate an easier birth. Mikki’s
days right now include regular
exercise like walking and leg lifts.
Her diet is made up primarily of
hay and specialized elephant grain.
The hay is sometimes provided in
hanging nets to encourage her to
stand and move. "Our goal is to
not let her gain more than 500
pounds during the course of her
pregnancy,” said Dr. Zoli Gyimesi,
the Zoo’s lead Veterinarian. “We
have a built-in scale in her elephant
barn, and we monitor her weight
regularly to make sure she's on track. In addition, we have
a fitness program."
Veterinary staff also performs periodic ultrasounds to see
how the calf is doing. In September, vet staff performed
an ultrasound at the elephant exhibit training wall so that
guests could get a behind-the-scenes view on Mikki’s care.
The ultrasound procedure is similar to the human version
but involves running water over Mikki’s abdomen to help
see the calf. "You can see parts of a foot or rib cage
or spine moving about in utero. It's really exciting," Dr.
Gyimesi said.
Mikki's calf is currently about the size of a bag of potatoes!
Be sure to follow the Louisville Zoo on social media to get
all our updates on Mikki’s progress.
12 • Louisville Zoo Trunkline • Winter 2018
RIBS
Top: Ultrasound being performed.
Bottom: Ultrasound of elephant calf.