Baby elephant 'Ongard' turns one
Melbourne Zoo's famous baby elephant celebrated his very special first birthday today.
The zoo's first-ever male Asian elephant calf Ongard swung past a milestone today, marking his first birthday with naturally banana cake.
At a whopping 142 kilograms at birth, things were always going to get biogger and better for Ongard.
In the past 12 months, Ongard has more than quadrupled his birth weight thanks to the loving care and attention from his mother Kulab.
At 630kg, Ongard is fast catching up with his older sister, Mali, who was born in January 2010 and now weighs 750kg.
Despite his brawny build, Elephant keeper Tully Johns says Ongard is still a bit of 'a mummy's boy', but very keen to lean.
"He loves his training - he already knows his name. He's learning a lot of husbandry behaviours that allow us to take good care of him, such as lifting his feet and opening his mouth for us.
"He has his four teeth now, but his tusks aren't showing yet."
Ongard's special day was marked with a party, and a giant-sized banana cake.
He also received a new toy, and, for the sake of minimalising sibling rivalry, Mali got one too.
Zoo director Kevin Tanner says Ongard's first birthday is another major milestone in its ambitious conservation breeding program for this endangered specie.
So far, two calves have been born with another due in January. Taronga Zoo in Sydney has also welcomed a baby elephant.
