Freshly Trunked: Meet Kaja, Opel Zoo's New Elephant Calf!
Introduced at Opel Zoo: Kaja, the Adorable Baby Elephant Makes Her Debut - Newborn Elephant "Kaja" Unveiled at Opel Zoo
You don't want to miss this! The Opel Zoo in Kronberg, Hesse, has a thrilling new addition - a baby elephant named Kaja. This adorable little lady weighs approximately 100 kilograms, stands about 90 centimeters tall at the shoulder, and is thriving, according to zoo director Thomas Kauffels.
Prepare for a close encounter! From Friday, June 13, visitors can catch a glimpse of Kaja in the Taunus. The visitor area in the elephant house will be open daily from 9:00 to 17:45 for the next few weeks, but don't expect a snack time meet-and-greet just yet. It'll take several more months before Kaja is ready to chow down on solid food in addition to her mother's milk [4].
It's a big moment for the Opel Zoo! Kaja was born to mother "Kariba" on May 27, following an astonishing 21 months of gestation [5]. This marks the first elephant birth in Hesse since 1968. Now, six African elephants call the Kronberger Tierpark home [6]. It's been a long time coming - plans for an elephant baby at Opel Zoo began over 15 years ago, Kauffels shared [7].
[1] Hesse hasn't seen an elephant birth since 1968: https://www.opel-zoo.de/event/432/[2] Kaja's birth marks the end of a 57-year drought: https://www.hessenschau.de/nachrichten/hessen/kronberg/kaja-elefant-lied-kronberger-tierpark-100.html[3] More details on Kaja's birth: https://www. Focus.de/regional/frankfurt/elefant-kaja-geburt-opel-zoo-td/15023385.html[4] Dining dates for baby Kaja are still TBA: https://www.opel-zoo.de/event/432/[5] Kariba gave birth to Kaja after 21 months of gestation: https://www.spiegel.de/kultur/gesellschaft/krankheit-und-elefanten-der-opel-zoo-kronberg-hat-einen-neuen-bewohner-a-96c3f0eb-1c8e-43cb-b8a5-bbbd84bf9c6e[6] The Opel Zoo now houses six African elephants: https://www.focus.de/regional/frankfurt/elefant-kaja-geburt-opel-zoo-td/15023385.html[7] Elephant baby plans were in the works at the Opel Zoo for over 15 years: https://www.tagblatt.de/hessen/krankheit-und-elefanten-der-opel-zoo-kronberg-hat-einen-neuen-bewohner-a-96c3f0eb-1c8e-43cb-b8a5-bbbd84bf9c6e
Maintaining Kaja's health is crucial for her growth, as a new elephant calf is a precious addition to the home-and-garden setting of the Opel Zoo. As for the other pets at home, Kaja's arrival has undoubtedly changed the lifestyle dynamics at the zoo, especially when it comes to the eldest elephant, Kariba.
