COLUMBUS – The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is treating Asian elephant calf, Frankie, to a birthday celebration on Tuesday.
Mom, Phoebe, and “aunts,” Rudy and Sunny, will join in the festivities, which will feature a “bubble bath” in Frankie’s indoor pool along with a bubble machine.
A bouncing baby calf at 261 lbs., Frankie was born at 8:48 p.m. on June 16, 2021, to 34-year-old Phoebe.
A party planned for his actual birthday was canceled when male elephant, Beco’s, health suddenly declined and he passed away, zoo officials said.
Frankie’s birth marked a major success for science as he was the product of artificial insemination, a relatively rare procedure for elephants.
Zoo officials say the most successful elephant artificial insemination attempts with less than 10 successful outcomes involving Asian elephants, two of which have happened at the Columbus Zoo.
building.., gave birth to an adorable 261-pound male calf. By 9:07 p.m., he was already standing and by 6 a.m. the next day, he had already gained enough strength to be able to lift his head high enough to successfully nurse from Phoebe.