First-time parents, Achara and Bowie, welcome a male calf. This newest addition establishes three generations of Asian elephants for the OKC Zoo’s herd!
The anticipation has been building for nearly 22 months for this momentous occasion but, the wait is over, as the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden announces that Achara, an endangered Asian elephant, has given birth to a healthy male calf and the first male elephant born at the Zoo. This the first offspring for parents Achara (10) and Bowie (pronounced Boo-ee) (11).
Achara’s calf was born on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at 6:56 a.m. inside the Oklahoma City Zoo’s elephant barn at Sanctuary Asia. The calf’s name, Xerxes (pronounced ZURK-seez) is Greek for “ruler of heroes” and was selected by the elephant care team. Both mom and calf are doing well and already seem to have a strong bond. Xerxes is the fifth Asian elephant born at the OKC Zoo, bringing the herd total to eight individuals.
“We couldn’t be happier for Achara and are thrilled to welcome Xerxes to our elephant family,” said Rachel Boyd, OKC Zoo’s elephant curator. “Based on the nurturing behaviors Achara showed towards her younger sisters, we had every reason to believe she would make a wonderful mother. Watching her care for her own calf is incredibly rewarding. She’s stepped into this role with confidence and is doing an outstanding job.”
As Achara approached her approximate birth window, the Zoo’s veterinary and elephant care teams began monitoring her closely for signs of labor. On Saturday, June 14, Achara’s progesterone levels decreased, indicating she would deliver within a few days, placing the vet and elephant care teams on round-the-clock baby watch. Achara progressed into active labor late Monday night, and early Tuesday morning, Xerxes had arrived. Achara’s delivery went smoothly and Xerxes was up and standing within minutes of being born. The elephant care team has reported that the calf is nursing regularly and bonding well with mom.
With the addition of Xerxes, the OKC Zoo’s elephant family spans three generations. The herd’s senior female Asha (30) is Achara’s mother and Xerxes’s grandmother. Additional herd members include Asha’s sister, Chandra (29), and daughters, Kairavi (6) and Rama (3) plus male, Kandula (23).
“Having the opportunity to care for three generations of elephants is an exciting, historical first for us,” added Boyd. “Xerxes’s birth is also a significant event for the Asian elephant population as a whole. As we continue our commitment to breeding Asian elephants and growing our herd, we are helping ensure a viable future for this beloved species.”
Achara’s pregnancy was announced in 2024 and monitored regularly by the veterinary and elephant care teams through ultrasounds, hormone testing, and visual exams. She and Bowie were paired as part of a breeding recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan® (SSP) for Asian elephants. SSP programs are cooperatively managed programs created to ensure the long-term conservation of imperiled species within AZA accredited zoos and aquariums.
Elephants have the longest gestation period of all mammals at 22 months from conception to birth. Newborn elephants can weigh 200-300 pounds at birth and are mobile shortly after being born.
Asian elephants are endangered, facing ever-changing environments and challenges, including human-elephant conflict, that threaten the species’ survival. The Oklahoma City Zoo leads conservation research efforts to understand and address human-elephant conflict through its organization, the Sri Lanka Elephant Project https://www.lankaelephants.org/. The OKC Zoo is currently the only AZA zoo leading research on wild Asian elephants to better understand how human activity influences behavior, social relationships, and health outcomes. Results from this research helps inform wild elephant management in Sri Lanka, a country that has high levels of human-elephant conflict. The Sri Lanka Elephant Project is primarily funded by the OKC Zoo’s Round Up for Conservation Program in which Zoo guests are asked to round up when making purchases at the Zoo, empowering them to help ensure a sustainable future for Asian elephants.
Asian elephants are also susceptible to EEHV, a fast-moving elephant herpes virus that affects elephants in the wild and in human care with a 60% fatality rate. As an organization committed to caring for and breeding Asian elephants, the OKC Zoo has become a leader in EEHV education and preparedness, serving as a resource for other AZA-member zoos and international institutions caring for elephants affected by EEHV.
“We are thrilled for our fans to meet Xerxes and know they will love him as much as we do,” shared Boyd.
Achara and her little guy will continue to spend time inside the elephant barn at Sanctuary Asia. They will be viewable to guests periodically throughout the day in the community sand stall and soon, weather permitting, the two will have access to their outside habitat.
Be part of this elephant-sized celebration by showing your love and wild generosity for Xerxes and the Zoo’s elephant family by supporting Boy, oh Boy: Welcome Xerxes! Wildlife fans are invited to shop this one-stop hub for all things elephant and show their support by purchasing limited-edition, “Exclusive Elephant Herd” T-shirts, original elephant-made artwork, and unique Wild Encounter experiences. Donations can be made now through Thursday, July 31, and will provide tons of support towards Asian elephant conservation, care, and enrichment.
The Oklahoma City Zoo’s regular daytime hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with the last entry at 4 p.m. Now through Labor Day, ZOOfriends members can enter early at 8:30 a.m. to beat the heat. Avoid the entry lines and purchase advance Zoo admission tickets online at okczoo.org/tickets. Located at the crossroads of I-44 and I-35, the OKC Zoo is a proud member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the American Alliance of Museums, and Oklahoma City’s Adventure District.
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