Baby Lady Bird is the sixth Asian elephant born at the Fort Worth Zoo. The 3-month-old baby girl’s arrival marks a significant milestone for Fort Worth as she’s the newest addition to the zoo’s Asian elephant herd.
The new baby elephant was introduced to the eight other elephants in the herd, one at a time, to ensure their harmony. Lead elephant trainer Christine Del Turco said that “most of the time” the elephants are excited when the baby comes out. The youngster spent her first three months nursing on her mother Bluebonnet and occasionally nursed off her aunt Belle.
Once the baby weans off nursing, zookeepers focus on physical and mental development with daily instruction. They lead her through exercises that have her standing on her hind legs to check for proper joint and muscle function. The training helps establish relationships between the animal and zookeepers, who can monitor diet, vitamin, and mineral needs.
The Fort Worth Zoo has professionals in elephant nutrition and blood testing to keep Lady Bird healthy. The zoo is a prime institution for conserving Asian elephants, with national conservation efforts dating back to 1998. According to the World Wildlife Fund, the Asian elephant is classified as an endangered species, with an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 animals left in the wild.
Visitors can catch Lady Bird and her family at the Elephant Springs habitat from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. daily. The Fort Worth Zoo is open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily.
Source: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/11/29/tiny-trunk-big-personality-baby-birdie-charms-fort-worth-zoo