'Stillborn' Sydney elephant calf alive

10/03/2010 | 12:02 PM

The live birth of an elephant calf just days after it was believed to have died in the womb is being hailed as a miracle by Taronga Zoo staff.

But it's still too early to know if the calf will survive.

The zoo's Asian elephant Porntip gave birth to the unnamed male calf early on Wednesday morning after a protracted labour lasting nine days.

Staff previously believed the calf had died in the womb on Sunday night, but now admit they were mistaken.

Zoo director Cameron Kerr said the calf was in a very delicate state after Porntip, the 18-year-old matriarch of Taronga's Asian elephant herd, gave birth.

"Her dedicated keepers reported the amazing news early this morning that the calf had been born and was showing signs of life," he said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Taronga's veterinary team immediately rushed to the elephant barn to assist Porntip and the calf."

Zoo senior veterinarian and world-leading expert on elephant births, Dr Thomas Hildebrandt, said on Monday it would be a miracle if the calf was born alive.

Following his birth at 3.27am (AEDT) on Wednesday, Mr Kerr warned the effects of the labour were yet to be determined, and the calf may not survive.

"While this is incredible news, the young calf still has a long way to go," he said.

"There are no guarantees of its long-term survival at this early stage but we hope that its birth against the odds will stand it in good stead."

On Monday, staff at the zoo said ultrasounds showed the calf was in an upside down position, making it impossible for the mother to give birth.

A veterinary team is working to support the pair.

On Monday, the zoo said that after six days of intensive labour by Porntip, keepers and veterinarians had found none of the five vital signs that would have indicated the calf was still alive.

Elephant calfs can weigh around 100kg.

Porntip, whose name means "gift from heaven", was artificially inseminated 22 months ago and went into labour on March 1.

About 50 per cent of first-time elephant mums lose their calfs.