The Oklahoma City Zoo’s endangered Asian elephant herd is continuing to grow.
Zoo officials announced that 7-year-old Asian elephant Kairavi, known as “Kai,” is pregnant with her first calf and is expected to give birth in June 2027. The announcement was made during the Zoo’s World Elephant Day celebration on Aug. 1.
The upcoming birth follows a busy period for the Zoo’s elephant program, which welcomed male calf Xerxes in May 2025 and a female calf on June 26, 2026. Kai’s calf will be the seventh elephant born in the Zoo’s history.
“Kai is about halfway through her nearly 22-month pregnancy,” said Dr. Jennifer D’Agostino, the Zoo’s chief animal program officer. The pregnancy was confirmed through routine blood tests and ultrasounds, and veterinary and elephant care teams will continue monitoring her throughout the pregnancy.
According to the Zoo, Kai’s daily exercise and training routines will remain consistent while she is expecting.
“We’re thrilled for Kai to become a mom and watch this next generation of calves flourish,” D’Agostino said. “This growth is incredibly important for our multigenerational herd. It will be exciting to watch the dynamics between the adults and youngsters as they build strong social bonds.”
Kai was born at the Oklahoma City Zoo’s Sanctuary Asia on Oct. 9, 2018, to mother Asha. She is the middle sibling between sisters Achara and Rama. The calf’s father, Kandula, arrived at the Zoo from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C., in 2015 through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan, a cooperative breeding program designed to help maintain healthy populations of endangered species.
When Kai’s calf arrives next summer, the Zoo’s elephant herd will grow to 10 animals spanning three generations. Elephant pregnancies typically last between 18 and 22 months — the longest gestation period of any mammal — and calves generally weigh between 200 and 300 pounds at birth.
The Oklahoma City Zoo has cared for elephants since 1930 and continues to participate in conservation efforts for the endangered species. In addition to breeding programs, the Zoo leads the Sri Lanka Elephant Project, which studies wild Asian elephants and the effects of human-elephant conflict. The Zoo also works with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction program to support conservation and public education.
August is recognized as Asian Elephant Awareness Month, and the Zoo is encouraging the public to learn more about elephant conservation through its social media channels. The Oklahoma Zoological Society is also promoting its elephant-themed specialty Oklahoma license plate, with proceeds supporting the Zoo’s conservation, education and animal care programs.