Ringling Bros. Announces Birth of 25th Asian Elephant Calf

VIENNA, Va., Jan. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation® proudly announces the birth of a healthy male Asian elephant. Our twenty-fifth calf, Nate, is named in honor of Feld Entertainment Executive Producers Nicole, Alana, and Juliette Feld's grandfather. Nate is the largest calf born to the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation breeding program – the most successful Asian elephant breeding program in the Western Hemisphere. Nate was born at 4:04 p.m. on December 15, 2012, weighing 352 pounds.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130122/PH46207 )

Nate is the calf of Sally and Romeo. He is Sally's sixth calf, and first male calf. Nate has three older half-sisters through his mom, Sally, currently touring with Ringling Bros., and will grow up with his half-sister on his dad's side, Piper, who was born in August.

"Not only are we launching the 143^rd edition of The Greatest Show On Earth with Built to Amaze, but Nate's birth also shows that we're continuing to build our herd of Asian elephants," said Executive Vice President of Feld Entertainment and Producer of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Alana Feld. "Our grandfather Nate is a beloved member of our family, and honoring him with our newest calf just shows how important these amazing animals are to the generations of our own family."

The team of veterinarians and elephant husbandry specialists who oversaw Nate's birth will also watch over and care for Nate as he grows and develops. Since the program's inception, it has seen unparalleled breeding success and remains one of the key components in Ringling Bros. international conservation efforts.

About the Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation was established to ensure that future generations have the opportunity to experience the endangered Asian elephant species. Built in 1995, this 200-acre, state-of-the-art facility was designed for the reproduction, research and retirement of the Asian elephant, enabling Ringling Bros. to share its elephant husbandry knowledge with the veterinary and conservation communities worldwide.

For more information about the Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation visit www.elephantcenter.com

SOURCE Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation