Animal Park Attempt to Examine Overdue Pregnant Elephant Fails

The San Diego Wild Animal Park made a third but unsuccessful attempt on Friday to examine Jean the pregnant elephant, who is more than 60 days overdue.

“We had hoped to have seen the fetus,” said Tom Hanscom, a spokesman for the park. “But we were unable to ascertain anything.”

For weeks, Jean’s keepers have been concerned that the fetus may be dead and that Jean may be developing an infection.

This week, they began treating the 19-year-old elephant with hormones to help her begin dilating, as well as some antibiotics.

Normal gestation for an elephant takes 615 to 668 days. As of Friday, Jean has been carrying the fetus about 730 days.

Hanscom has said that, if the elephant cannot give birth to the baby, a Cesarean section will be considered as the last, drastic option.

“In large mammals, we always expect some small complications in a first pregnancy,” he said.

“But, if she becomes infected from within, there will be very little we can do for her.”