A zoo has expressed delight after an “exceptional mother” gave birth to an endangered Asian elephant.
Late on Monday, the patter of not so tiny feet was heard at Whipsnade Zoo, Bedfordshire, as Donna delivered the 1m (3.3ft) tall, 110kg (243lb) male calf.
The birth, which followed a 22-month gestation, was captured on CCTV.
Stefan Groeneveld, a manager at the zoo, said: “With Asian elephants facing so many challenges in the wild, this calf represents real hope for the future of the species.”