Natural Birth Is Good for Elephants, Too

Giving Birth with Confidence has a nice post about the labor and birth of a baby elephant at the Dublin Zoo. This was the first elephant born in Ireland. The mother, Bernhardine, was allowed to complete the natural process in her own time, without interventions of any kind.

"The other female elephant and her own young elephant stayed with Bernhardine in labor and have been caring for her and her baby every since."

See also, "First Elephant Born in Ireland," and  "Medical Meddling in Birth."

On Flickr, Ken Heffernan has posted a wonderful photo of the baby.