A female Asian elephant calf has been born after a two-year pregnancy.
The baby elephant, Zaiya, arrived at 10.30pm on Tuesday, September 2, when mother Tara delivered her first offspring.
It marks the first birth of a female calf at Blackpool Zoo.
Zoo staff had spent years preparing for this moment, implementing careful planning to manage potential complications during the lengthy pregnancy and birth.
The newborn has been given the name Zaiya, derived from Burmese and signifying strength, and is now more than three weeks old.
Complications arose immediately after delivery when the newborn struggled to nurse from her mother.
The zoo's elephant care team responded swiftly, drawing milk from Tara to ensure the calf obtained vital colostrum containing essential antibodies and nutrients.
Staff have maintained continuous observation since the birth, though the young elephant has yet to successfully feed directly from her mother.
Zaiya was born in the Lancashire Zoo
|BLACKPOOL ZOO
The facility's design allows Zaiya to stay with the herd whilst receiving nutritional assistance from keepers.
The elephant house temporarily closed to visitors to give the animals privacy for bonding.
Public viewing is scheduled to resume gradually from September 27, during the restricted hours of 11.30am and 2.30pm.
The zoo's elephant programme began taking shape when Tara and three other female elephants relocated from Twycross Zoo in 2018.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Tara, Zaiya and Noorjahan have settled in
|BLACKPOOL ZOO
Male elephant Emmett joined the group from ZSL Whipsnade Zoo the following year, establishing the foundation for developing a breeding herd across multiple generations.
Section Manager at Blackpool Zoo, Adam Kenyon, said: "This is an exceptionally proud and emotional moment for everyone involved."
He praised his team's dedication in fostering strong relationships with the elephants and creating an appropriate environment.
Kenyon highlighted how the female elephants naturally assist in raising young within the herd, describing this cooperative behaviour as essential for calf development and strengthening group dynamics.
Tara and Zaiya have been left in the closed enclosure for privacy
|BLACKPOOL ZOO
Zoo Director Darren Webster called the birth "a truly historic moment for Blackpool Zoo", noting it resulted from extensive planning and cross-sector collaboration.
He emphasised the achievement demonstrates the zoo's commitment to protecting threatened species.
Mr Webster added: "It represents the culmination of years of prudent planning and collaboration across multiple sectors and marks the beginning of another chapter in our continued commitment to the Asian elephant herd at Blackpool Zoo.
"This achievement further reinforces our dedication to the conservation of all endangered species and I could not be prouder of our team."
The significance extends beyond Blackpool, as Asian elephants have appeared on the IUCN Red List as endangered since 1986.
Wildlife experts estimate the species' numbers have fallen by half or more across the past three generations.
This decline makes breeding programmes in zoos increasingly vital for the species' future.
The EAZA Ex Situ Programme serves as an essential safety net for Asian elephant survival, with births like Zaiya's contributing to maintaining genetic diversity outside their natural habitat.