Category: Digest

_{This YouTube video was produced by The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.}

It’s a BOY!…and we caught the first moments on camera.

In the late hours of October 21, 2025, Asian elephant Phoebe gave birth to a healthy calf in the elephant habitat’s designated birthing space behind the scenes. Weighing in at 222 pounds at birth, both baby and Mom are doing well and are under the watchful care of the Animal Care and Conservation Medicine teams.

Phoebe began showing signs of labor on October 21, and, as an experienced and confident mother, handled the birth with ease. Her care

_{This YouTube video was produced by The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.}

When Dr. Priya Bapodra-Villaverde was growing up, she was captivated by the natural world. Elephants, especially, held a special place in her heart – not only for their intelligence and deep family bonds, but also because of their cultural significance. Ganesha, the elephant-headed god known for removing obstacles, was her favorite Hindu deity. That connection, passed down through her family, helped shape the compassionate values that guide her today.

Every time Dr. Priya travels to an elephant range country, she adds an eleplant charm to a necklace she