Male Elephant Born At San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park

ESCONDIDO, Calif. -- A male African elephant born at the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park in Escondido is being monitored around the clock to ensure the first-time mother properly cares for her baby, it was announced Monday.

The calf was born at 9:14 Sunday night to 17-year-old Litsemba, one of seven African elephants rescued from culling in Swaziland and brought to the Wild Animal Park in 2003.

It's the third calf from the rescued herd to be born at the Wild Animal Park. Two other elephants are pregnant and due later this year.

"Through these successes, we are demonstrating our commitments to African elephant conservation and creating a sustainable population, allowing people to learn about elephants firsthand for generations to come," said Jeff Andrews, the Wild Animal Park's animal care manager.

It was the second calf sired by Mabhulane.

The average gestation period for African elephants is 649 days or about 21 months, according to park officials. A newborn calf is about 3 feet tall and averages between 250 to 300 pounds.