05/02/10
Both Dokkoon and her calf are recovering well from the difficult birth, and Dokkoon is developing some excellent mothering instincts.   Baby is very active, toddling around Dokkoon's legs for most of the time, but sometimes venturing a bit further away.   Baby is feeding at least once an hour. 

Her birth weight was estimated to be about 110kg  and she has been gaining weight at a rapid rate, with her weight being X130kgas of Feb 2nd.  

Both Dokkoon and her calf are sleeping well now, with Dokkoon getting up to five straight hours of sleep.  Sometimes her calf will snuggle up right under Dokkoon's chin.   The calf needs even more sleep than her mother, so when she is napping Dokkoon usually stands protectively over her.       

Keepers are gradually introducing the calf to Dokkoon's closest companion, Mek Kapah, who has been living at the Zoo for more than 30 years and has no experience of being around a calf.  The boisterous calf seems to startle Mek Kapah from time to time, as she bounds between the adult's legs, but Mek Kapah seems to be slowly coming to accept that the calf is a new member of the group.  

The next challenge for the Keepers will be to introduce the calf to the other two adult females, Kulab and Num-Oi.  They were both in the barn when the calf was born, so they have seen her from the start.  However, they have only seen her from a bit of a distance, not up close and personal!   Kulab is due to give birth to her own calf in August or September, so Keepers are very keen for her to get used to having a calf nearby.