ST. LOUIS — Saint Louis Zoo made a pregnancy announcement for one of its fan-favorite animals Thursday.
Jade is a 17-year-old Asian elephant. She is due at the end of this year or beginning of 2025. Elephants are pregnant for 21.5 to 22 months.
Asian elephants usually carry one calf that weighs 150 to 350 pounds at birth.
The Saint Louis Zoo shared a video of Jade that shows the calf kicking.
The sex of the calf is unknown.
In 2023, the Saint Louis Zoo shared a photo of Jade on social media. The post said Jade is a "socially savvy elephant," and she greets her keepers every morning with squeaks. She has a favorite toy in her enclosure.
Jade is one of Raja's daughters, the first elephant born at the Saint Louis Zoo. Raja is moving to the Columbus Zoo as part of a recommended breeding program.
