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Endangered baby elephant's birth captured on cctv

Credit: Chester Zoo

A rare Asian elephant has been born at Chester Zoo, with the birth captured on CCTV.

The female calf arrived to 12-year-old mum Sundara after a 22-month gestation and was on her feet within minutes.

Richard Fraser, assistant team manager of elephants at Chester Zoo, described the birth as "perfect" and a "great family occasion."

Asian elephants are listed as endangered on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's red list, threatened by habitat loss, poaching, disease and direct conflict with humans. The new calf is a huge boost to the endangered species breeding programme.

This was Sundara's second pregnancy and the birth was pretty much perfect.

She delivered her calf onto soft sand with all the family gathered around. Sundara then gave her a series of little kicks to gently stimulate and encourage her to her feet. Minutes later, the new arrival was up and standing and making her first attempts to suckle.

– Richard Fraser, assistant team manager of elephants at Chester Zoo

Chester zoo welcomes new arrival: tiny deer 'the size of a Christmas bauble'

Credit: Chester Zoo

Chester Zoo is celebrating a UK first, with the arrival of a tiny deer with a body about the size of a Christmas bauble.

The female Philippine mouse deer has been born to parents Rita and Ramos.

Our newborn deer is incredibly small - similar in size to a Christmas bauble on tiny little legs, weighing just 430 grams.

But, while this new arrival may be small in stature, it's big in terms of importance.

It's the very first time the animal has been bred in the UK and to break new ground like this with a mammal species is really quite rare.

The Philippine mouse deer is an endangered species.

It's highly threatened by massive deforestation in South East Asia and so it's great news that our newcomer will add valuable new bloodlines to the conservation breeding programme in zoos. It's vitally important that we work to ensure these wonderful animals do not disappear for good.

– Tim Rowlands, Chester Zoo

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Chester Zoo celebrates World Elephant Day

Nandita, is the zoo's youngest elephant Credit: Chester Zoo

Today is World Elephant Day, and Chester Zoo has shared an adorable video of a baby elephant calf Nandita playing with its family.

World Elephant Day's purpose is to raise awareness about poaching and cruelty to elephants throughout the world.

Nandita, is the zoo's youngest elephant and was born one year ago to experienced mum Thi.

Elephants are intelligent and sociable animals who live together in family groups and usually led by the oldest female.

Chester Zoo also has a bull elephant, Aung Bo, who joined in 2012 and plays an important role in the conservation breeding programme.

Their most distinctive features is of course their long trunks which can be very powerful, but also very delicate when needed to forage for food.

Credit: Chester Zoo

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