The indoor section of the Asian elephant habitat at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium was quiet and still, just the way the elephants are used to at night. The lights were off, part of the herd’s normal routine, and the air was calm. In another room nearby, a small group of animal care experts leaned forward toward the soft glow of the closed-circuit TV monitors, keeping a close eye on every subtle movement.
Over the weekend, Phoebe’s progesterone levels had dropped, signaling the final stretch of her two-year pregnancy. The team knew the birth was close. And then, on the screen, they saw it: Phoebe had her right leg lifted, a sign that the birth was near in previous births. It was the signal they’d been waiting for.
Minutes later, in the quiet of the night, a new life entered the world.
At 10:41 p.m. on October 21, 2025, 38-year-old Phoebe gave birth to a healthy male calf weighing 222 pounds. As the team watched, the newborn stirred, pushed himself up on wobbly legs, and took his first step. Phoebe stood steady and protective beside him, just as she has with each of her previous calves. It was a moment of instinct, strength, and quiet triumph.
A Milestone Birth in Columbus Zoo History
This calf’s arrival marks a historic milestone for Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Earlier this summer, Sunny welcomed her calf, Rita Jean, making this the first time in the Zoo’s near 100-year history that two elephant calves have been born in the same year. For the elephant care team, this isn’t just a coincidence, but the result of years of planning, thoughtful habitat design, and round-the-clock dedication to supporting a thriving elephant herd.
“The trumpeting of two calves in one year is music to our ears and a win for Asian elephant conservation,” said Tom Schmid, president and CEO of the Columbus Zoo and The Wilds. “Thanks to years of planning with zoo partners, Phoebe and her baby boy are doing well, and we can’t wait to share this joy with our community.”
The Zoo’s multi-year habitat expansion was carefully designed to provide more space and create conditions that support natural herd dynamics. “Two calves born in one year is exactly the kind of herd dynamic we hoped to create,” said Adam Felts, vice president of Animal Care. “It allows the elephants to interact, learn from one another, and thrive in a way that mirrors the social structure found in the wild.”
A Growing, Thriving Herd
Phoebe’s newest calf joins a close-knit herd in the Asia Quest region, including his mom Phoebe, her son Frankie (born in 2021), female Rudy (23), male Johnson (24), and Sunny (16) and her calf Rita Jean (4 months). Both calves’ father, Sabu, resides at Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden and spent time in Columbus as part of a temporary stay. The pairing was recommended through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan, a program that ensures healthy, genetically diverse populations of threatened and endangered species in professional care.
For now, Phoebe and her baby are spending their first days bonding quietly behind the scenes. Over time, and at Phoebe’s pace, the team will begin carefully introducing the calf to other members of the herd. Eventually, guests will be able to meet the little one in person, but these early days are about trust, security, and letting Phoebe lead the way.
More Than One Special Night
While this birth is a joyful moment for the Columbus Zoo community, it also represents something much bigger. Asian elephants are endangered, with their populations having declined by at least 50 percent over the last three generations. Today, they occupy only about 15 percent of their historic range due to habitat loss, degradation, and poaching.
The Columbus Zoo is deeply involved in helping secure a future for this species. In partnership with Wildlife Trust of India and the IUCN Species Survival Commission, the Zoo led the establishment of the Center for Species Survival for Asian Elephants in India — the first of its kind dedicated to a single species. Positioned within the elephant’s native range, this center coordinates solutions to urgent conservation challenges across 13 range countries.
Every calf born is part of that global effort. The work happening quietly in a barn in Ohio connects directly to protecting elephants around the world.
What’s Next
In the coming weeks, the Columbus Zoo will share updates about public viewing opportunities, the calf’s milestones, and naming plans on its social media platforms. Guests visiting Asia Quest can also learn more about elephant conservation at the Asian Elephant Conservation Center.
What began as a quiet October night in a softly lit habitat has become a moment of history — one that belongs not just to Phoebe and her calf, but to an entire community committed to protecting this extraordinary species.
Learn more about Asian Elephants Visit our Asia Quest Region
