Going by past experience from when she first gave birth in 2012, the zoo has decided to alter their birthing practices and to keep Hoa (29 years of age and resident at Leipzig Zoo since 1987) chained up during the birth. From last summer she has been chained up at different times of the day during her daily routine so that she gets used to the idea. "Chaining her up during the birth improves the chances of a successful birth and keeps various options open to us if the elephant cow becomes aggressive while birthing and enables us to protect the elephant calf, which will be reunited with its mother later on. For the development of Hoa's social competences the first impressions are extremely important", says senior curator Gerd Nötzold about this approach.
In addition to monitoring her weight and general well-being and testing for progesterone in urine samples, blood samples are also taken once a week to monitor her metabolic rate. The results help to estimate her expected due date.
Over the coming weeks and months individual training sessions will be increased during the night and during her daily routine. From a certain date (depending upon the blood results) zoo keepers will guard her at night. "We are taking all precautionary measures at the moment and are adapting our rosters accordingly, so that we will be prepared for the big day. Hopefully Hoa won't keep us waiting too long", says Jörg Junhold (Director of Leipzig Zoo).