The Oklahoma City Zoo put out the following press release:
The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden’s endangered Asian elephant herd keeps growing with the births of Xerxes in May 2025, a female calf on June 26, 2026, and, exciting news, there’s another calf coming soon!
As part of its World Elephant Day festivities on Saturday, August 1, the Oklahoma City Zoo announced that Asian elephant Kairavi “Kai” (7) is pregnant and expected to give birth in June 2027. This will be the first offspring for Kai and Kandula (24) and the seventh calf born in the Oklahoma City Zoo’s history.
“The elephant caretakers had a lot of fun sharing the announcement about Kai during Saturday’s special presentation and the news was received with lots of cheering and enthusiasm from our guests,” said OKC Zoo’s Chief Animal Program Officer, Dr. Jennifer D’Agostino.
Kai is about halfway through her nearly 22-month pregnancy which was confirmed by the OKC Zoo’s veterinary and elephant care teams through routine blood tests and ultrasounds. These teams will continue to monitor Kai through ongoing exams. Kai’s caretakers shared that her daily activities including exercise and training will remain consistent throughout her pregnancy.
“We’re thrilled for Kai to become a mom and watch this next generation of calves flourish,” added Dr. D’Agostino. “This growth is incredibly important for our multigenerational herd and it will be exciting to watch the dynamics between the adults and youngsters. These interactions are enriching for the elephants at every age, contributing to their overall wellbeing and building strong social bonds.”
Kairavi was born on October 9, 2018 at the OKC Zoo’s Sanctuary Asia to mom Asha and is the middle sibling to sisters Achara and Rama. Kandula arrived at the Zoo in 2015 from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C. as part of a breeding recommendation through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan® (SSP) for Asian elephants. The OKC Zoo participates in several SSP programs which are cooperatively managed by animal experts among AZA-accredited-members with the goal of safeguarding the long-term conservation of imperiled species in human care.
With the addition of Kai’s calf, the Zoo’s elephant family grows to 10 individuals including Asha, Chandra, Achara, Kai, Rama, Kandula, Bowie, Xerxes, and a female calf that has not yet been named, spanning three generations. Pregnant for an average of 18-22 months, elephants have the longest gestation period of all mammals. Calves can weigh 200-300 pounds at birth and are typically standing and mobile shortly after birth.
The Oklahoma City Zoo has been caring for and connecting people to elephants since 1930 and is dedicated to ensuring a sustainable future for them. Asian elephants are endangered, with the species facing threats such as habitat loss and human-elephant conflict. The OKC Zoo leads conservation efforts to understand and address human-elephant conflict through its research initiative, the Sri Lanka Elephant Project. The OKC Zoo is currently the only AZA zoo leading research on wild Asian elephants in Sri Lanka to better understand how human activity influences behavior, social relationships, and health outcomes. The Zoo also collaborates with the Asian Elephant SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction program for Asian elephants to raise awareness for this species through conservation education, outreach, and special events.
Want to show your love for the Zoo’s Asian elephants?
August is Asian Elephant Awareness Month and the OKC Zoo is calling on elephant fans to take action for these beloved and endangered animals through a social media campaign. This August, follow the OKC Zoo’s socials and participate in #AsianElephantAwarenessMonth and make a stand for Asian elephants.
The Oklahoma Zoological Society and OKC Zoo also invite Oklahomans to join the herd and order the Zoo’s new specialty “elephant” license plate. These wild plates feature a beautiful and vibrant design by Oklahoma artist, Rick Sinnett, that was selected from a public vote and inspired by the Zoo’s Asian elephants. OKC Zoo plates can be purchased at www.ozsgiving.org/platecontest, click on “order plate”. $10 from each plate goes directly back into the OKC Zoo, including renewals after initial plate purchases. Funds raised will support the OKC Zoo’s conservation initiatives, education programs, and operations.
Located at the crossroads of I-44 and I-35, the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden is a proud member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the American Alliance of Museums and Oklahoma City’s Adventure District. Zoo admission can be purchased at the park or online at Admission Tickets. Stay connected with the Zoo on Facebook, Instagram, Linktree, and TikTok, and through the Zoo’s Blog. Zoo more with a ZOOfriends membership! Members enjoy free admission to the Zoo for 12 months, plus exclusive benefits and discounts while supporting the Zoo’s animal care and conservation initiatives locally and all around the world. Learn more and become a member today at www.okczoo.org/membership.
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