'Miracle' baby elephant cheats death

AUSTRALIA: A baby elephant believed to have died during a nine-day labour was born alive at an Australian zoo on Wednesday, amazing its keepers and defying expert opinion that such an outcome would take a "miracle".

Sydney's Taronga Zoo said Monday that the calf had died in the womb after becoming trapped in a position from which they believed there was no chance of a successful birth.

Zoo director Cameron Kerr said that advice from Berlin-based elephant reproduction expert Thomas Hildebrandt was that such an outcome after a protracted labour has never been seen before.

"He said the birth will completely re-write the elephant birth text books," Kerr said. On Monday, Hildebrandt told the media that an ultrasound and the failure to detect a heartbeat had led experts to believe the calf was dead.

"Should the calf be born alive, it would be a miracle," he said at the time.

Experts now believe the calf survived the nine-day labour in a coma, and this could explain why they had thought the calf was dead. "That unconscious state would explain the complete absence of any vital signs during all the checks and examinations we conducted during the labour," said senior veterinarian Dr Larry Vogelnest

The zoo said the next 24 hours were critical in keeping the almost 100 kilogram (220 pound) calf alive, particularly given that only 50 percent of first-time elephant mums have successful deliveries.

"Porntip is already showing signs of being an excellent mother, trying to help him suckle although he hasn't quite managed to suckle yet," Vogelnest said. "She's in good health and has been getting to know her calf, gently touching the young animal with her trunk." SYDNEY, Wednesday, AFP