Stewart WhittinghamNorth West
Blackpool Zoo
The adorable image of the baby and her mother was captured on the zoo’s CCTV
CCTV footage has captured the moment a baby elephant snuggled up to her mum as they slept in her zoo pen.
Blackpool Zoo said the “heart-warming moment” happened when one-month-old baby Zaiya and Tara were captured spooning during night.
Officials said it reflected the “deep, protective bond between a mother and her calf”.
Asian elephant calf Zaiya was born on 2 September at the zoo after a pregnancy that lasted two years.
Blackpool Zoo
The zoo said baby Zaiya’s birth was an “historic” moment
The zoo said it was “thrilled” with Zaiya’s “rare” birth.
The indoor elephant enclosure was closed to the public for nearly a month while the herd developed “crucial bonds” with the calf.
Zaiya was the first successful female elephant birth at the zoo.
The zoo’s director Darren Webster said it was a “truly historic moment”.
He added: “This achievement further reinforces our dedication to the conservation of all endangered species and I could not be prouder of our team.”
Asian elephants have been listed as endangered since 1986, with populations estimated to have declined by at least 50% over the last three generations.
Blackpool Zoo
One-month-old baby Zaiya in the outside elephant enclosure at the zoo