After almost two years of waiting, Reid Park Zoo just welcomed a baby elephant.
Semba, a 30-year-old African elephant, gave birth to a female calf shortly after 3:30 a.m. Monday. The calf weighed in at 295 pounds and is healthy.
There's no name quite yet, though staff have been dabbling with a few choices. Look out for a poll to help name the calf soon.
The birth comes more than five years after the calf's big sister Nandi was born. Nandi was the first elephant born in Arizona and very quickly stole the hearts of nearly every Tucsonan.
The new calf is believed to be the second elephant born in the state.
"Semba is an experienced mother," said Director of Zoological Operations Sue Tygielski in a press release. "After 22 long months of gestation, she had smooth labor without any complications."
Read more about the calf here. Video courtesy of Reid Park Zoo
The calf joins Semba, Nandi, father Mabu, big brother Sundzu and Lungile, who staff say is Nandi's and Sundzu's aunt.
Shortly after the calf was born, Semba encouraged the baby to meet and touch Nandi and Lungile. Mabu and Sundzu had the chance to see the calf later in the day.
Reid Park Zoo staff found out Semba was pregnant more than a year ago, as part of a breeding recommendation from a species survival plan. Since late February, keepers and docents have been watching Semba's every move — 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Semba and her baby will continue to be monitored, as staff track things such as nursing and the baby's "firsts."
The zoo is currently closed amid the coronavirus pandemic, but will keep the community updated on social media and on reidparkzoo.org, where live webcam footage of the elephant habitat is available.
Photo gallery: Baby watch at Reid Park Zoo
80+ photos of Tucson's baby elephant Penzi
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Penzi at almost a year old, weighing about 1,075 pounds.
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Penzi and Nandi spending time together.
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“She teaches us all to love and protect elephants,” 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.
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Penzi and Nandi are still close as ever, despite Penzi receiving etiquette lessons from Nandi in January.
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Penzi reached 1,000 pounds quicker than her sister Nandi.
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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.
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Penzi is now 10 months old and weighs 980 pounds.
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Reid Park Zoo's elephant calf Penzi enjoyed her first snow day on Jan. 26, 2021.
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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.
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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.
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Penzi is now 9 months old and weighs 900 pounds.
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Penzi is pictured here with aunt Lungile and big sister Nandi.
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Now 9 months old, Penzi is still as close as ever with her big sister Nandi.
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At 9 months old, Penzi enjoys creating muddy slip-and-slides with big sister Nandi.
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Mapenzi — Penzi for short — was born to African elephant Semba on April 6. She joined sister Nandi, dad Mabu, brother Sundzu and aunt Lungile at the zoo.
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Penzi likes to find things around her habitat to interact with — food to eat, a log to balance on or toys to play with.
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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.
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Though she’s growing more independent, Penzi loves her playtime with big sister Nandi.
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Tucson elephant calf Penzi is now 8 months old and 815 pounds.
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Elephant calf Penzi was born in April and is now tipping the scale at 735 pounds.
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Lately, Penzi has been loving hay, leaves and tree branches.
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Penzi’s 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 está interactuando y socializando más con el resto de la manada.
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Reid Park Zoo
Mapenzi -Penzi para abreviar- nació del elefante africano Semba, el 6 de abril. Se unió a su hermana Nandi, su padre Mabu, su hermano Sundzu y la tía Lungile.
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A los seis meses, la cría de elefante Mapenzi se ha convertido en una gran aficionada a la lechuga, el pepino y el heno.
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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.
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Mapenzi runs through her enclosure at Reid Park Zoo, 3400 E. Zoo Court, on Aug. 25, 2020.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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This photo of Penzi was taken around her 4-month mark.
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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.
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Tucsonan will be able to again see the Reid Park Zoo’s elephants and other creatures starting Aug. 28.
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Penzi celebrated her 4-month birthday with her first dip into the mud wallow.
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Mapenzi, born April 6, is very social with the other elephants in the Reid Park Zoo herd.
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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.
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At 3 months old, Mapenzi — Penzi for short — is learning to come when Reid Park Zoo keepers call her and has voluntarily allowed staff to draw blood without giving any reaction.
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Penzi’s teeth have come in, so she’s been interested in eating bits of hay, grass and leaves. Her favorite food is lettuce.
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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.
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Two-month-old Mapenzi can now put things in her mouth using her trunk.
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Reid Park Zoo’s baby elephant, Mapenzi, is learning to cool herself down in the mud wallows, though she is still a bit cautious.
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At 1 month old, Reid Park Zoo’s baby elephant, Mapenzi, is starting to use her trunk more accurately.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Reid Park Zoo’s 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.
Reid Park Zoo, baby elephant
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Reid Park Zoo in Tucson, Arizona is proud to announce that Semba, the zoo’s 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 zoo’s 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 zoo’s 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 zoo’s 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
