Pittsburgh Zoo officials: Prematurely-born baby elephant in poor health
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium says a baby elephant born prematurely in May has “taken a turn for the worse.”
The zoo said Wednesday the next 24 to 48 hours will be crucial for the survival of the still-unnamed baby elephant born in May weighing only about 180 pounds.
Officials say the baby’s mother, Seeni – one of three elephants the zoo rescued from Botswana in 2011 – hasn’t produced milk for her, forcing the zoo to feed her with a bottle.
The zoo said earlier that the baby elephant’s teething led to a diminished appetite, and the erratic eating pattern has caused her to stop gaining weight.