Houston Zoo Celebrates Birth of Endangered Baby Elephant Kirby

The 314-pound Asian elephant was born to 34-year-old Shanti after a 19-hour labor.

Kirby, the newborn elephant, stood within six minutes and began walking 25 minutes after birth.
The Houston Zoo's elephant and veterinary teams monitored Shanti's 21-month pregnancy closely.
Kirby is Shanti's fifth offspring, joining siblings Nelson and Joy at the zoo's elephant habitat.
Asian elephants are endangered, with only 30,000 to 50,000 remaining in the wild due to habitat loss and poaching.
Houston Zoo supports elephant conservation efforts in Asia, including tracking wild elephants to aid protection.