Elephant calf debuts at Sydney zoo

SYDNEY, July 5 (UPI) -- A newborn elephant calf made a short-lived appearance at the Taronga Zoo in Sydney tucked between its mother's legs, a zoo representative says.

Zoo representative Mark Williams said the calf, which has not been named yet, appeared shy and tentative when it recently made a public appearance at the Australian tourist site, The Sydney Morning Herald reported in its Monday edition.

"The keepers walked out first to show the elephant's mother, Thong Dee, it was all good and she came out a little way with the calf tucked in under her feet," Williams said.

"She thought about a bit more of a stroll but in the end just went back inside."

Williams told the Morning Herald the first elephant born in Australia has been accepted by the rest of its herd, a crucial accomplishment in the elephant world.

"Elephants operate in a social structure, so the level of attention and affection from the other elephants is crucial to the success of the breeding program," the zoo official said.