IT’S A GIRL!
RINGLING BROS. AND BARNUM & BAILEY CENTER FOR
ELEPHANT CONSERVATION®
ANNOUNCES
BIRTH OF 24th ASIAN ELEPHANT CALF
(September 19, 2012 – Vienna, VA) – The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey
Center for Elephant Conservation® proudly announces the birth of a healthy female Asian elephant –
marking the twenty-fourth birth in what is already the most successful Asian
elephant breeding program in the Western
Hemisphere. The calf, named Piper after Ringling
Bros.® producer Nicole Feld's daughter, was born at 8:05 p.m. on
August 13, weighing 316 pounds.
“We
are committed to this endangered species and have a personal connection to
each elephant. It is an honor that the newest addition to our herd is named for
my daughter, the newest member of our family,” said Nicole Feld, Executive Vice
President of Feld Entertainment and Producer of Ringling Bros. and
Barnum & Bailey. “I am looking forward to watching this beautiful
elephant grow up next to her namesake.”
Piper is the calf of
Shirley and Romeo, both of whom were born through the Ringling Bros. breeding program. Her sister, Mable, is currently
touring with Ringling Bros. This
second generation born into the Ringling
Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation breeding program shows that members
of the herd are successfully reproducing on their own.
The announcement of
Piper’s birth coincides with Elephant Appreciation Day, celebrated on Saturday,
September 22. “I can’t think of a better way to
celebrate Elephant Appreciation Day than sharing the wonderful news of our most
recent baby elephant, Piper,” said Feld.
The team of veterinarians
and elephant husbandry specialists who oversaw Piper’s birth will also watch
over and care for Piper as she grows and develops. Since the program’s
inception, it has seen unparalleled breeding success and remains one of the key
components in Ringling Bros. international
conservation efforts.
About the Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant
Conservation: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for
Elephant Conservation was established to ensure that future
generations have the opportunity to experience the endangered Asian elephant
species. Built in 1995, this 200-acre, state-of-the-art facility was designed
for the reproduction, research and retirement of the Asian elephant,
enabling Ringling Bros. to share its elephant husbandry knowledge
with the veterinary and conservation communities worldwide.
For more information about the Ringling Bros. Center
for Elephant Conservation visit www.elephantcenter.com
Media Contacts:
Ashley Smith
asmith@feldinc.com
703-448-4145