Supat - I understand that he does not have enough calcium in his back leg bones - but why isn't there enough calcium?? Was his milk not proper for him as a baby & need more research or does he have disease that prevents his adsorption of calcium from his food??? What went wrong in his body?? This is heart breaking as he is the baby we fell in love with - Khun chai tried to take my camera from my face playing when we there. I have so many pictures of him. Why do you say there is very little hope? Thank you. Emily

God I hope he can get well enough to stand and be a healthy little baby elephant. My wishes are with you all.

We had this news from Tarong Zoo email to Zoo friens on Monday but read on please.....

(from Taronga Zoo Sydney Australia)
Dear Friend,
I wanted to write to you as a friend of our zoos and valued supporter to share some sad news with you.
All the staff at Taronga and Taronga Western Plains Zoos were greatly saddened today when it was confirmed that the zoos' expected second Asian Elephant calf has not survived a difficult labour. Although we all knew that with first-time elephant mothers deliveries are successful in only around 50 percent of births, everyone at the Zoo was hoping that our second birth would be a success.
Our expectant mother, 18 year old Porntip had been exceptionally fit and well throughout her pregnancy and was due to give birth later this month. However, she went into labour last week but it was intermittent and not sustained.
The team assembled to manage the birth is the best in the world and included the world's pre-eminent expert on elephant birth, Dr Thomas Hildebrandt from the Berlin Institute of Zoo and Wildlife Health. Despite the high level of ongoing care provided, which included state-of-the-art ultrasound testing, keepers and veterinarians suspected by the early hours of this morning that the calf has not survived the labour. Based on the available evidence it appears that the calf was in a position that has not been seen before in the thousands of recorded elephant births, preventing Porntip from giving birth.
The attending international expert doctor has confirmed that in the wild, such a labour would have been fatal for both mother and calf. We've all been incredibly saddened by this outcome, but right now, our focus must be on caring for Porntip and the rest of the herd. She is in good shape and is already spending time with her close herd-mates and keepers. Porntip will also be given ongoing medical treatment to respond to any symptoms from the lengthy labour.
As she is young and fit, we have every hope that Porntip will go onto to having further calves in the future.
We at the zoo are still tremendously committed to our conservation breeding program for Asian Elephants, which are an endangered species and one that needs all our help. Taronga's first elephant calf, Luk Chai, is growing at a great pace and we have every hope in achieving more successful births in the future.
Thank you for your ongoing understanding and support. We will aim to update you further in the coming days and months,

Then this news today......

Dear Friend,
Following the tragic announcement that I shared with you on Monday, I have some unbelievable news. Our elephant matriarch, Porntip has delivered a live calf in the early hours of the morning. This is despite all indications that the calf had not survived the very protracted labour.
The calf, a young male, was seen this morning and signs of life were detected. In response the emergency veterinary team were called. The keepers and vets are working on the little calf now and a full medical assessment is underway. Porntip, is doing well, she is calm and is in the barn with the keepers and her calf.
After a long and difficult labour, we believed that the calf had passed away in the uterus when a series of ultrasound scans and medical examinations by the world?s pre-eminent elephant reproductive expert, Dr Thomas Hildebrandt, was unable to detect any signs of life. Dr Hildebrandt said at that stage that should the calf be born alive, it would be a miracle. We believe now that the traumatic labour may have induced a state of coma in the calf.
While this is incredible news, we still have a long way to go. The calf is currently very weak but is receiving the best medical care and our vets are working to determine the possible effects of the protracted labour on the calf. At this very early stage, there are no guarantees of the calf?s long-term survival but we hope that his birth against the odds will stand him in good stead.
Our other elephants in the herd, Pak Boon, Tang Mo and Thong Dee, together with eight month old Luk Chai, are calm and in the barn.
I would like to thank everyone who shared such kind messages of condolence and support with us earlier this week. The events of this morning have highlighted to me just how complex the challenges are in breeding and helping to preserve this magnificent species. Nature still has the ability to amaze and surprise us all
Please watch our website for updates later in the day and we will email more information on our calf?s progress as it becomes available.

What fantastic news................