WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) – The Sedgwick County Zoo has announced that a fifth elephant is pregnant, as part of an effort to grow the population and sustainability of African elephants.

Last year, the zoo announced that Talia, Xolani, Arusi, and Zuberi were all expecting their first offspring, to be born in the spring of 2025. This week, the zoo said that all of the herd's females, except for Stephanie, who is post-reproductive, are expecting. 

Throughout each pregnancy, the zoo's care team has been tracking each elephant's health, including monitoring body condition, hormones, vitamin and mineral intake, and routine bloodwork.

Because African elephants face numerous challenges in the wild, the zoo says each birth plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the future of the species.