if you thought foaling was a bit worrying, watch this...

[kerilli]

I put this in Breeding and it's had a favourable response, so i'll stick it in here... very surprising and totally amazing.
http://www.dumpert.nl/mediabase/656611/d1dfcfee/live_olifant_geboorte_tv

 

[Tinkerbee]

Flipping heck

 

[Super_Kat]

Certainly puts you off having kids

 

[cellie]

wow bit surprised there was nothing to cushion the delivery like some shavings.

 

[kerilli]

wasn't anyone else surprised that it didn't come out from under the tail?!?!

 

[Tinkerbee]

[ QUOTE ]
wasn't anyone else surprised that it didn't come out from under the tail?!?!

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes

I was majorly confused! And am slightly wondering about the mating now... must be some interesting angles going on

 

[Ashgrove]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
wasn't anyone else surprised that it didn't come out from under the tail?!?!

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes

I was majorly confused! And am slightly wondering about the mating now... must be some interesting angles going on

[/ QUOTE ]

Me too, very odd

 

[Tharg]

Wow, a lot of fluid. I'm sure in the wild the ground could be as hard as concrete, not to mention stones, tree roots, uneven terrain.

 

[cellie]

[ QUOTE ]
wasn't anyone else surprised that it didn't come out from under the tail?!?!

[/ QUOTE ]
Hugely but didnt want to appear dumb

 

[ginginandtonic]

oh lord, you'd need your wellies on around that wouldn't you!!!!

 

[Taffyhorse]

Ahhh, how sweet!

A lady elephants Vagina is underneath and between her back legs. An Elephants willie has muscles on it which when the Bull elephant mounts the female, take over and 'find' the vagina.

Apparently an elephants willie is so manipulable, bulls can use it to scratch an itch on their tummy

 

[miss_bird]

That was damn amazing, and i am also another one that was surprised that the baby did not come out from under the tail.

 

[Theresa_F]

[ QUOTE ]
Apparently an elephants willie is so manipulable, bulls can use it to scratch an itch on their tummy

[/ QUOTE ]

Wow, Mr Stinky would love to be an elephant - he has to lie down and rub his belly for his itchies.

 

[wildwest]

god that was heart in mouth viewing

 

[Abbeygale]

My god! I thought for a moment that the mother was going to pick the baby up with her trunk!

Very amazing!

 

[amandap]

Wonderful!!

 

[SirenaXVI]

Fantastic!

 

[MochaDun]

I'm sorry, while amazing to watch a live birth like this I find that slightly distasteful. In the wild elephants whether Indian or African would not give birth onto something as hard as concrete, though of course the ground is baked hard in those countries. But what worries me in this is that that calf landed with force on the back of its head, no bedding or vegetation laid out or anything! But before you all jump on me, I know full well life in the wild with young elephant calves can be just as tough and more unpredictable than if they're in captivity and many die at birth but at least it's natural.

Elephants in particular are very sensitive, and while they don't tend to give birth alone (as it's more of a herd activity with great excitement from the family members) I don't believe whether a captive animal or not there should be large TV lights and cameras in their faces. They could have used CCTV or anything else to get these images and not turn it into a sideshow. I felt it was a just bit too intrusive as the result as the narration indicates was they managed to get images of a birth for the first time at the safari park, presumably for publicity purposes on internet and TV. Sorry maybe I'm just having a very fluffy day here but am I the only one to find it amazing to see but just a bit wrong?! Or does the fact that this is so obviously a captive animal mean it's OK? I'm not sure...

 

[kerilli]

must admit i wish it had been onto a nice soft bed, both for when it landed so hard, and when it was struggling to stand on wet slippery concrete.
more cover for the whole thing, others around her, would have been nicer for her too, i suspect.

 

[deecee]

Impressive, wow!!!!

 

[PapaFrita]

[ QUOTE ]
oh lord, you'd need your wellies on around that wouldn't you!!!!

[/ QUOTE ]
LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jesterfaerie]

what an impressive video, I am so glad I am not the only one who was shocked that it didn't come out from under the tail!!

 

[MandyMoo]

[ QUOTE ]
wasn't anyone else surprised that it didn't come out from under the tail?!?!

[/ QUOTE ]

yes i was pretty surprised....very odd

but that was pretty amazing footage

what a cute baby elephant, and the mum's instincts were incredible how she initiated the infant's breathing

xx