The first baby elephant to be born in Emmen’s Wildlands Zoo has arrived right on cue for the Easter holiday weekend.

The male calf was born at around 12.30am on Monday and was named Mauk by staff.

‘The little guy is very steady on his feet and weighs around 100 kilos. He looks very good and healthy,’ said a message on the zoo’s Facebook page.

Mauk is the first new arrival in the ‘elephant valley’ since the zoo moved to its new home two years ago, but keepers expect him to be joined by another baby later in the spring.

His mother, Minglaar Oo, was the first elephant ever to be born in Emmen, 26 years ago. Mauk is her fifth baby and brings the total size of the herd up to nine.