At 2 months old, Reid Park Zooโs baby elephant Mapenzi weighs 395 pounds. She is still as energetic as ever, despite experiencing diarrhea.
Mapenzi โ Penzi for short โ was born to mama Semba on April 6. She joins sister Nandi, brother Sundzu, dad Mabu and aunt Lungile.
The Star will be documenting Penziโs milestones each month until sheโs 1 year old.
Penziโs health and energy
The zoo tracks how often Penzi nurses โ down to the seconds โ every day. A couple weeks ago, Penzi wasnโt nursing as well and was acting a tad fussy, says director of zoological operations Sue Tygielski.
But those problems only lasted a couple days and sheโs now nursing just fine.
Penzi later started to experience diarrhea, though itโs unknown if the issue has anything to do with the earlier problems with nursing. Veterinarians havenโt been able to determine the cause of the diarrhea.
โHealth-wise, the veterinarians are still checking on her 24 hours a day, but we have seen improvements โ both behaviorally, she seems great, and clinically. In her labs, weโve seen improvements,โ Tygielski says.
โShe is amazing even with this diarrhea and this heat,โ she says. โYou would never know sheโs not 100% because behaviorally, sheโs full of energy and playing.โ
To keep Penzi from getting dehydrated, sheโs been in the barn more and on the habitat less. If youโve been tuning into the zooโs live elephant cams on reidparkzoo.org, the best time to catch Penzi is early in the morning.
New this month
During her first month, Penzi worked on maneuvering her trunk. Now, sheโs pretty much mastered it.
โSheโs following her mom around and picking up the things sheโs picking up,โ Tygielski says, adding that before, Penzi would pick things up but couldnโt really make the connection to put anything in her mouth.
Her coordination has also gotten better since her first month, though itโs not uncommon to see her fall.
โShe gets so excited she sometimes doesnโt pick her feet up high enough,โ Tygielski says, adding that sometimes Penzi will try to balance multiple feet on a log or the lift of the barn door.
โSometimes itโs successful and sometimes it ends in the plop of an elephant,โ Tygielski says.
And like most kids, Penzi loves toys โ including small black tubs that she enjoys stomping on.
โShe realizes she can step on them and they change shape or make a funny noise,โ Tygielski says.
Just like her first month, Penzi is still hesitant to get into deeper mud wallows.
โShe likes water but sheโs very hesitant to get into water,โ Tygielski says. She instead prefers to splash at the edge.
โI thought as we got into these hot temperatures, she would for sure get into it,โ Tygielski says. โEventually sheโll learn that swimming is a fun thing, but she isnโt there yet.โ
BONDING with keepers, Nandi
Despite the fact that keepers have given Penzi โyucky-tasting medicationsโ in recent weeks, Tygielski says one of Penziโs favorite things is getting scratched with the keepersโ large brushes.
โWhen you start doing it, she kind of lights up,โ Tygielski says, adding that Penzi will even flap her ears open so she can get brushed behind there.
As for Penziโs relationship with big sister Nandi, theyโre still as close as ever.
The two sisters are sometimes separated โ when Nandi is on the habitat and Penzi is in the barn โ but when they reunite, โitโs like a little party every time,โ Tygielski says.
โNandi really has been a superstar in how gentle sheโs been with (Penzi) and how curious sheโs been with her,โ Tygielski says. โWeโre so delighted Nandi is interacting with her so well and kind of giving Semba a break.โ
Reid Park Zoo is closed due to the coronavirus. Keep up with the zoo at reidparkzoo.org or facebook.com/ReidParkZoo.
80+ photos of Tucson's baby elephant Penzi
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Penzi at almost a year old, weighing about 1,075 pounds.
Penzi
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Penzi and Nandi spending time together.
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โShe teaches us all to love and protect elephants,โ said elephant supervisor Cassie Dodds, of Penzi.
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Although Penzi plays with Nandi the most, she's had good interactions with the rest of the herd. Pictured with Nandi here are Lungile and Semba.
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At 11 months old, Penzi is starting to get her tusks, her favorite food is cucumber and she still loves to play with her big sister Nandi.
Penzi
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Penzi and Nandi are still close as ever, despite Penzi receiving etiquette lessons from Nandi in January.
Penzi
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Penzi reached 1,000 pounds quicker than her sister Nandi.
Penzi
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As a 10-month-old elephant, Penzi is starting to become more independent from her mom.
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Penzi continues to be social with the rest of the herd. This photo shows her with big sister Nandi and mama Semba.
Penzi
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Penzi is now 10 months old and weighs 980 pounds.
Reid Park Zoo snow day
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Reid Park Zoo's elephant calf Penzi enjoyed her first snow day on Jan. 26, 2021.
Reid Park Zoo snow day
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Reid Park Zoo's elephant calf Penzi enjoyed her first snow day on Jan. 26, 2021.
Reid Park Zoo snow day
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Reid Park Zoo's elephant calf Penzi enjoyed her first snow day on Jan. 26, 2021.
Reid Park Zoo snow day
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Reid Park Zoo's elephant calf Penzi, seen here with mom Semba, enjoyed her first snow day on Jan. 26, 2021.
Reid Park Zoo snow day
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Reid Park Zoo's elephant calf Penzi, seen here with mom Semba, enjoyed her first snow day on Jan. 26, 2021.
Reid Park Zoo snow day
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Reid Park Zoo's elephant calf Penzi, seen here with big sister Nandi, enjoyed her first snow day on Jan. 26, 2021.
Reid Park Zoo snow day
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Reid Park Zoo's elephant calf Penzi, seen here with big sister Nandi, enjoyed her first snow day on Jan. 26, 2021.
Reid Park Zoo snow day
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Reid Park Zoo's elephant calf Penzi, seen here with big sister Nandi, enjoyed her first snow day on Jan. 26, 2021.
Reid Park Zoo snow day
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Reid Park Zoo's elephant calf Penzi enjoyed her first snow day on Jan. 26, 2021.
Reid Park Zoo snow day
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Reid Park Zoo's elephant calf Penzi enjoyed her first snow day on Jan. 26, 2021.
Penzi
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Penzi is now 9 months old and weighs 900 pounds.
Penzi
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Penzi is pictured here with aunt Lungile and big sister Nandi.
Penzi
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Now 9 months old, Penzi is still as close as ever with her big sister Nandi.
Penzi
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At 9 months old, Penzi enjoys creating muddy slip-and-slides with big sister Nandi.
Penzi
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Mapenzi โ Penzi for short โ was born to African elephant Semba on April 6. She joined sister Nandi, dad Mabu, brother Sundzu and aunt Lungile at the zoo.
Penzi
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Penzi likes to find things around her habitat to interact with โ food to eat, a log to balance on or toys to play with.
Penzi
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Now eight months old, Penzi is still close as ever with sister Nandi.
Penzi
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Now eight months old, Penzi is still close as ever with sister Nandi.
Penzi
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Though sheโs growing more independent, Penzi loves her playtime with big sister Nandi.
Penzi
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Tucson elephant calf Penzi is now 8 months old and 815 pounds.
Penzi
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Elephant calf Penzi was born in April and is now tipping the scale at 735 pounds.
Penzi
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Lately, Penzi has been loving hay, leaves and tree branches.
Penzi
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Penziโs current hobbies include eating and keeping up with the rest of the herd.
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Reid Park Zoo
A pesar de su creciente independencia, Mapenzi estรก interactuando y socializando mรกs con el resto de la manada.
Penzi
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Reid Park Zoo
Mapenzi -Penzi para abreviar- naciรณ del elefante africano Semba, el 6 de abril. Se uniรณ a su hermana Nandi, su padre Mabu, su hermano Sundzu y la tรญa Lungile.
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Reid Park Zoo
A los seis meses, la crรญa de elefante Mapenzi se ha convertido en una gran aficionada a la lechuga, el pepino y el heno.
Mapenzi
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Born weighing 295 pounds, Mapenzi has doubled that five months later, now weighing 600 pounds. The Reid Park Zoo, 3400 E. Zoo Court, reopened at the end of August.
Mapenzi
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Mapenzi runs through her enclosure at Reid Park Zoo, 3400 E. Zoo Court, on Aug. 25, 2020.
Reid Park Zoo reopens
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Mapenzi picks up and chews on plants in her enclosure at Reid Park Zoo located at 3400 E. Zoo Ct., on Aug. 25, 2020.ย
Reid Park Zoo reopens
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Mapenzi, the four-month-old elephant calf, runs through her enclosure at Reid Park Zoo located at 3400 E. Zoo Ct., on Aug. 25, 2020.ย
Reid Park Zoo reopens
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Mapenzi, the four-month-old elephant calf, walks through her enclosure at Reid Park Zoo located at 3400 E. Zoo Ct., on Aug. 25, 2020.ย
Reid Park Zoo reopens
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Mapenzi (left), the four-month-old elephant calf, and her sister Nandi inside their enclosure at Reid Park Zoo located at 3400 E. Zoo Ct., on Aug. 25, 2020.ย
Reid Park Zoo reopens
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Mapenzi, the four-month-old elephant calf, runs with the rest of her herd at Reid Park Zoo located at 3400 E. Zoo Ct., on Aug. 25, 2020.ย
Reid Park Zoo reopens
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Mapenzi, the four-month-old elephant calf, gnaws on plants at Reid Park Zoo located at 3400 E. Zoo Ct,, on Aug. 25, 2020.ย
Reid Park Zoo reopens
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Mapenzi, the four-month-old elephant calf, drinks water at Reid Park Zoo located at 3400 E. Zoo Ct., on Aug. 25, 2020.ย
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Four-month-old Mapenzi enjoys hanging out with big sister Nandi. "She wants to be attached and learning everything Nandi is doing," said Reid Park Zoo elephant supervisor Cassie Dodds.ย ย
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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This photo of Penzi was taken around her 4-month mark.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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At 4 months old, Mapenzi weighs 546 pounds. She enjoys eating beet pulp, which is the root of a sugar beet soaked into an oatmeal-like texture.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Tucsonan will be able to again see the Reid Park Zooโs elephants and other creatures starting Aug. 28.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Penzi celebrated her 4-month birthday with her first dip into the mud wallow.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Mapenzi, born April 6, is very social with the other elephants in the Reid Park Zoo herd.ย
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Penzi continues to be timid around deep mud wallows but she has started to creep up to the side. Reid Park Zoo staff creates smaller puddles for her.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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At 3 months old, Mapenzi โ Penzi for short โ is learning to come when Reid Park Zoo keepers call her and has voluntarily allowed staff to draw blood without giving any reaction.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Penziโs teeth have come in, so sheโs been interested in eating bits of hay, grass and leaves. Her favorite food is lettuce.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Two-month-old Mapenzi was born at Reid Park Zoo on April 6, 2020.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Two-month-old Mapenzi was born at Reid Park Zoo on April 6, 2020.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Two-month-old Mapenzi can now put things in her mouth using her trunk.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Reid Park Zooโs baby elephant, Mapenzi, is learning to cool herself down in the mud wallows, though she is still a bit cautious.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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At 1 month old, Reid Park Zooโs baby elephant, Mapenzi, is starting to use her trunk more accurately.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Reid Park Zooโs baby elephant, Mapenzi, turned 1 month old on May 6.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Reid Park Zoo's baby elephant was born on April 6.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Reid Park Zoo's baby elephant was born on April 6.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Reid Park Zoo's baby elephant was born on April 6.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Reid Park Zoo's baby elephant was born on April 6.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Reid Park Zoo's baby elephant was born on Monday, April 6.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Reid Park Zoo's baby elephant was born on Monday, April 6.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Reid Park Zoo's baby elephant was born on Monday, April 6.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Here's a shot of Reid Park Zoo's baby elephant, pictured with big sister Nandi and mama Semba.ย
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Reid Park Zoo in Tucson, Arizona is proud to announce that Semba, the zooโs African elephant matriarch, gave birth to a calf at 3:33 a.m., Monday, April 6, 2020. The female calf who weighed in at 295 pounds is healthy, standing, and nursing.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Reid Park Zoo in Tucson, Arizona is proud to announce that Semba, the zooโs African elephant matriarch, gave birth to a calf at 3:33 a.m., Monday, April 6, 2020. The female calf who weighed in at 295 pounds is healthy, standing, and nursing.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
Updated
Reid Park Zoo in Tucson, Arizona is proud to announce that Semba, the zooโs African elephant matriarch, gave birth to a calf at 3:33 a.m., Monday, April 6, 2020. The female calf who weighed in at 295 pounds is healthy, standing, and nursing.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
Updated
Reid Park Zoo in Tucson, Arizona is proud to announce that Semba, the zooโs African elephant matriarch, gave birth to a calf at 3:33 a.m., Monday, April 6, 2020. The female calf who weighed in at 295 pounds is healthy, standing, and nursing.
Reid Park Zoo
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Shelby Maerling, an elephant care professional at the Reid Park Zoo, conducts her morning routine health check on Semba, an African elephant, on March 12, 2020. Semba is currently pregnant and is due sometime in mid-April.
Reid Park Zoo
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Shelby Maerling, left, and Savannah Beck, elephant care professionals, conduct their morning routine health checks on Samba, left, and Nandi, both African elephants, at the Reid Park Zoo on March 12, 2020. Semba is currently pregnant and is due sometime in mid-April. The sex of the calf is unknown.
Reid Park Zoo
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Semba, an African elephant, walks around her enclosure at the Reid Park Zoo on March 12, 2020. Semba is currently pregnant and is due sometime in mid-April. The sex, height or weight of the calf is unknown.
Reid Park Zoo
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Ann Forsberg-Doyle, a docent, keeps a watch on Semba, an African elephant, at the Reid Park Zoo on March 12, 2020. Semba is pregnant and due sometime in mid-April. Her movements and behavior are recorded every five minutes twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week by staff and volunteers at the zoo.
Reid Park Zoo
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Martha Hendricks, left, and Ann Forsberg-Doyle, both docents, keep a watch on Semba, an African elephant, at the Reid Park Zoo on March 12, 2020. Semba is pregnant and due sometime in mid-April. Her movements and behavior are recorded every five minutes twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week by staff and volunteers at the zoo.
Reid Park Zoo
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Shelby Maerling, an elephant care professional at the Reid Park Zoo, conducts her morning routine health check on Semba, an African elephant, on March 12, 2020. Semba is currently pregnant and is due sometime in mid-April.
Reid Park Zoo
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Shelby Maerling, an elephant care professional at the Reid Park Zoo, conducts her morning routine health check on Semba, an African elephant, on March 12, 2020. With arm gestures, Maerling has Semba walk backwards. Semba is currently pregnant and is due sometime in mid-April.
Reid Park Zoo
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Savannah Beck, a lead elephant care professional at the Reid Park Zoo, conducts her morning routine health check on Nandi, an African elephant, on March 12, 2020. Nandi's mother, Semba, is currently pregnant and is due sometime in mid-April. The sex of the calf is unknown.
Reid Park Zoo
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Martha Hendricks, a docent, records on a tablet that Semba, an African elephant, was eating at the Reid Park Zoo on March 12, 2020. Semba is pregnant and due sometime in mid-April. Her movements and behavior are recorded every five minutes twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week by staff and volunteers at the zoo.
