3-Jun-09 2:00 PM CST

Like Proud Parents, Memphis Zoo Staff Waits Expectantly for Baby Elephant

On a typical day, the African elephant Asali walks a mile, led by Memphis Zoo keepers Diana Barkle and Jessi Douglass.

But on Tuesday, after only a few passes along her trek, she crossed her back legs and refused to budge. A long walk in the sun just wasn't happening for this pregnant pachyderm.

Asali is 21 months pregnant and could give birth at any time. When she does, her calf will be the first elephant born at the zoo in its 103-year history. Her daily walks are just one item on a checklist of things zoo workers have done to prepare her and the facility for the event since she was artificially inseminated in September 2007.

"She's a really calm animal. We feel good about the way she looks and acts, and seeing so much movement in that baby, it's great," said elephant manager Andrew

Smith, leader of a 10-member birthing team.

The team of zoo staffers interact with Asali so she'll be comfortable around them during the birth. She undergoes regular ultrasounds to track the calf's development, although they can't show the gender.

Her food has been monitored closely to prevent excessive weight gain and an overly large calf.

"A too-big baby can cause complications. And we've found that in the wild, they're born fairly thin and not overweight," said curator Matt Thompson, who pointed out that she's carrying high, around her rib cage. (A girl, perhaps?)

To prepare himself for the birth, Smith witnessed elephant births at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando and at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.

"It was a great opportunity. It shows you how zoos have come together and help each other out and share their expertise and knowledge," Smith said.

The March 2008 birth of a male calf named Samson was the first elephant born at the zoo in Baltimore, said Mike McClure, general curator/elephant manager.

The zoo staff did similar prep work there.

"I went so far as to get a local crane company to donate 24-hour services if for some reason the mom needed to be lifted to her feet or we had some sort of complication," McClure said. "Fortunately, we didn't need any of it."

Memphis zoo keepers have begun to draw blood daily to monitor Asali's progesterone, which will alert them to her approaching labor, Smith said. Labor could be as short as a few hours or much longer.

A birthing stall is being prepared. Elephants deliver standing, and wood shavings will soften the baby's landing.

During labor and delivery, three or four of the elephant team members will be in the stall to help the calf stand and check its health.

"Because Asali's a first-time mom she might be scared of it or even a little aggressive," Thompson said.

After the birth, mother and baby will spend their days in the baby-proofed rhinoceros exhibit next door. The current resident, 44-year-old Tombi, will happily spend her days inside, getting access to the enclosure at night, Thompson said.

New fencing will keep the calf from falling into the moat, and a pool has been removed.

Asali's companions Tyranza, 44, and Gina, 26, will be able to see, smell and touch the calf through a "howdy" area between the two enclosures that allows them to all get acquainted, said Thompson.

"This is the first baby elephant any of them have seen, so we don't know what their reaction will be. Once we introduce them, it will go really well or it won't," he said. "It will be one extreme or the other."

Eventually the two enclosures will be remodeled into one big elephant yard.

At the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas, facilities director Jerry Stones remembers when Asali was born.

If her calf is anything like her, it will be a "goer."

"Asali was rambunctious and playful and somewhat of a snot," Stones said. "I wish them the best of luck."