A Little Elephant Delight at Opel Zoo: "Kaja" Steals the Show
"Kaja" captivates guests at the Opel zoo with her charm
Baby elephants have been making headlines at the Opel Zoo in Kronberg, Taunus, Germany. The joyous news: Elephant cow "Kariba" has given birth to a calf, affectionately named "Kaja," who made her public debut on Thursday.
By Lukas Fortkord
Here Comes the Highly Awaited Newcomer!: Elephant lovers, prepare to be delighted! Opel Zoo's recent sensation - a newly born baby elephant named "Kaja" - was born on May 27. Get ready to meet the first elephant to be born in Hesse since 1968, joining the six African elephants already residing in this amazing zoo.
"The delivery went without a hitch," assured Uta Westerhüs, the deputy director and chief veterinarian, but the following days weren't all smooth sailing. Mother "Kariba" initially refused to let her calf nurse, so the devoted zoo keepers stepped in to milk her. It took until Whitsun for the process to settle down, and "Kaja" finally started nursing with the encouragement of her aunt "Lilak". "For now, we're navigating calm waters," said Westerhüs, "but we always have to keep our fingers crossed for any unforeseen circumstances."
Cheerful Cubs in Stuttgart: The adorable antics of the newborn elephant aren't the only delightful moments happening in Germany's zoos. Stuttgart's cheetah cubs recently ventured out into their enclosure for the very first time!
Get Ready to Meet "Kaja": Opel Zoo Visitors Can Catch a Glimpse Starting Friday! 🐘
Want to catch a glimpse of the tiny, bundles-of-joy elephant? Starting Friday, visitors can drop by the Opel Zoo. The lower visitor area in the elephant house will be open from 9 AM to 5:45 PM for the next several weeks.
Feeding is not yet an option for the calf. It will take a few more months before she's prepared to start eating solid food in addition to her mother's milk.
First born in Hesse since 1968: "Kaja", now weighing around 100 kilograms and standing approximately 90 centimeters at her shoulder, and her parents, "Kariba" and "Tamo", are both first-time parents.
Quick Facts:
- First elephant birth in Hesse after 53 years
- Kaja was born on May 27, 2025
- Kariba is the mother, and Tamo is the father
- Kariba arrived at the Opel Zoo from Berlin in the summer of 2020
Enrichment Data:
Insights and Facts:
- Babies Born in Quick Succession: Kaja's birth comes only a little over a year after the birth of a zebra foal, another first for the Opel Zoo in decades[1].
- A Rare Experience: The Opel Zoo offers a unique experience for its visitors, being one of the only zoos in Germany to house African elephants[1].
- Elephants and Pregnancy: Elephant pregnancies can last for up to 22 months, making it one of the longest in the animal kingdom[2].
- Close Monitoring: The zoo's veterinarians will closely monitor Kaja's growth and development throughout the first few years of her life, ensuring her health and wellbeing[2].
Embrace a New Beginning: The birth of "Kaja" at Opel Zoo is not only an extraordinary event for the zoo but also a new chapter in Hesse's home-and-garden scene. Since her arrival on May 27, she has become the first elephant born in this region since 1968, enriching the diverse life here.
Witness a Milestone: If you're intrigued by this exciting milestone, pay a visit to Opel Zoo starting from Friday. The lower visitor area in the elephant house will be open, offering you a close-up look at baby "Kaja" as she grows up in her lifestyle within the zoo's home-and-garden environment.
