Elephant birth captured on Chester Zoo CCTV

The birth of an elephant calf has been captured on CCTV at Chester Zoo.

After a pregnancy lasting 22 months, Thi Hi Way, a 34-year-old Asian elephant at the zoo, gave birth to the female on Thursday afternoon.

Zookeepers said the calf, which is yet to be named, was on its feet within three minutes and was doing well.

Andy Mckenzie, team manager of elephants at Chester Zoo, described the "very smooth" birth as a "real family occasion".

He said: "They all knew that something was going to happen, especially the older elephants that have seen it all before.

"It was great to see the younger individuals being around the birth and learning from the older cows in the family."

Asian elephants

• Native to India and South East Asia

• Listed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

• Can weigh up to 787 stone (5,000kg)

• Threatened by habitat loss due to logging, agricultural and urban development

• Also threatened by poaching for ivory and conflict with humans

Source: Chester Zoo