Louisville Zoo will soon welcome new baby elephant

Mikki the African elephant at the Louisville Zoo has entered her birthing window

July 9, 2019 at 8:28 PM EDT - Updated July 9 at 8:28 PM

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - Typical human pregnancies last around nine months. But for African elephants it’s more than double that.

Mikki the African elephant at the Louisville Zoo has entered her birthing window (the gestation period is typically 22 to 24 months, longer than any other mammal).

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Staff are on 24-hour watch and are taking blood samples daily.

Mikki has entered the birthing window. Staff are on 24-hour watch. We are taking blood samples daily. Yesterday, her progesterone levels were high. Once they drop to baseline, Mikki may go into labor within a few days. Mikki is carrying a calf that is over 200 lbs! pic.twitter.com/Jb9hcTtkAF
— Louisville Zoo (@LouisvilleZoo) July 9, 2019

She conceived via artificial insemination, which is a common practice for pigs, cattle and horses. It was developed in elephants in the 1990s, according to zoo officials.