The Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, Kansas is making history as the first zoo in the state to successfully welcome the live births of two African elephants within one week of each other. Additionally, two more elephants within the breeding herd are pregnant and expecting calves this spring and summer – making it the first accredited zoo in the United States to anticipate the births of four African elephant calves within a single year.
On April 10, the zoo welcomed its first live calf. Talia gave birth to a baby male African elephant, Bomani, which means “warrior” in Swahili. Four days later on April 14, Xolani delivered a male calf named Kijani, in the supportive presence of other members of the herd, including Bomani and his mother, Talia. All mothers and babies are healthy and are showing positive signs of bonding.
“We are overjoyed to welcome Bomani and Kijani to our Zoo family and are excited about this historic milestone. The safe arrival of two African elephant calves in less than one week is incredible,” said Sedgwick County Zoo CEO Scott Newland. “2025 is going to be a huge year for our team, our zoo, the Wichita community and for the sustainability of the population of African elephants in North America.”
In 2024, the Sedgwick County Zoo announced that all five female elephants in its breeding herd—Simunye, Talia, Xolani, Arusi, and Zuberi—were pregnant. Elephants are pregnant for approximately 22 months, so births were expected through spring and summer of this year. Two births are still anticipated following the unfortunate stillbirth of Simunye’s calf on March 14 and the two successful births since then.
In addition to the zoo’s growing herd, Sedgwick County Zoo is home to the fifth largest elephant exhibit in the country and boasts one of the largest water features within an elephant exhibit in the country. Zoo guests have the opportunity to share the water with the herd on a boat tour through the canal.
"If you don’t have the Sedgwick County Zoo on your bucket list, now is the time to add it! With two healthy baby African elephants now a part of the herd and two females currently pregnant, Kansas’ most-visited attraction is making history and is a must-visit destination for wildlife lovers everywhere,” said Susie Santo, president and CEO of Visit Wichita. “Home to the fifth largest elephant exhibit in the country, featuring one of the largest water features and the only boat ride of its kind, our city’s zoo in the Heart of the Country is an experience you won’t find anywhere else.”
Elephant Care & Viewing
The zoo’s dedicated elephant care team is providing round-the-clock monitoring to ensure the health and well-being of the expectant mothers and their calves. In alignment with breeding recommendations from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums African elephant Species Survival Plan, these additions to SCZ’s herd are a reflection of the Zoo’s commitment to support the health and sustainability of African elephant populations in North America.
The calves still require plenty of quiet time behind the scenes but have begun exploring their public habitats for short periods of time.
For more information about the elephants at Sedgwick County Zoo and opportunities to support our growing herd, visit SCZ.org/elephants and follow Sedgwick County Zoo on social media.
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About Visit Wichita
Visit Wichita markets the Greater Wichita area and advocates for the city as a destination, increasing travel and tourism as a key economic driver for the city, county, region and state. Visit Wichita is led by president and CEO Susie Santo, and in 2024 travel and tourism contributed more than $1.5 billion in economic impact to the greater Wichita area.
VisitWichita.com | @VisitWichita
About Sedgwick County Zoo
The Sedgwick County Zoo is dedicated to inspiring respect and conservation for wildlife and wild places. Home to nearly 3,000 animals of more than 400 different species, SCZ has been recognized with national and international awards for its support of field conservation programs and successful breeding of rare and endangered species. Opened in 1971, it has been ranked among the best zoos in the country and is the No. 1 outdoor family tourist attraction in Kansas. The zoo is a not-for-profit organization, accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals and a better future for all living things. With its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a global leader in wildlife conservation and your link to helping animals in their native habitats.
scz.org | @SedgwickCountyZoo
