The Sedgwick County Zoo announced on Monday that 29-year-old African elephant Simunye, delivered a stillborn calf following a healthy, full-term pregnancy, according to a social media report from the zoo.
The Zoo community, staff, and elephant herd alike are mourning this devastating loss. This would have marked the first elephant born at Sedgwick County Zoo in its 54-year history.
The monumental journey of Simunye's 22-month pregnancy ended in heartbreak on Friday, despite the expert care provided by the elephant care and veterinary teams.
Regular prenatal exams and behavioral observations indicated that both mom and calf were healthy with no sign of complications throughout the entire gestational term.
Simunye began showing signs of active labor early Thursday morning while the care team watched remotely to allow for the most natural birthing environment. She delivered her calf Friday afternoon and despite her best attempts to assist, it showed no signs of movement.
Other members of the herd surrounded Simunye throughout labor, and continued to provide support throughout the night as they grieved the loss together. The calf, a female, was named Malaika, which means “angel” in Swahili.
“This is a time of extreme sadness for the entire Zoo family, “ said Scott Newland, President and CEO of Sedgwick County Zoo. “We were so excited to welcome a new member to the herd, and the entire pregnancy progressed exactly as it should have. Unfortunately though, not all pregnancies end in healthy births and we don’t always get an answer as to why.”
A thorough necropsy has been conducted and determined that the calf died during the birthing process.
Simunye will continue to recover under the careful watch of the herd and the elephant care team. Elephants are extremely intelligent, social, and emotional animals, exhibiting strong bonds within their herd. They are known to provide support and comfort for one another through every birth, death, and each milestone in between.
“We know the deep connection our community has with our elephant herd, and we are grateful for your compassion, understanding, and support as we navigate this difficult time,” said Newland. “The team remains committed to providing the very best physical and emotional care for Simunye, as well as the rest of the herd as they process this unexpected loss.”
The Sedgwick County Zoo remains steadfast in its commitment to the preservation of African elephants in North America, actively participating in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ African Elephant Species Survival Plan. Four other elephants in Sedgwick County Zoo’s herd are expecting calves this year, and the team will continue to do everything they can to ensure healthy births for Talia, Arusi, Xolani, and Zuberi, while honoring the memory of the calf we so dearly hoped to welcome to the herd.