The birth is due to place in the zoo’s Kaziranga Forest Trail Habitat in the next few weeks and will be beamed live to an elephant specialist in the USA. If successful, it will be only the second time an elephant birth has been filmed in Europe.
Local network integrators DNA IT Solutions have installed two Axis 214 PTZ network cameras in preparation for the new arrival. These cameras replace the enclosure’s traditional analogue cameras, which were not delivering clear enough images for the zoo’s needs.
Night birth
Axis said the zoo chose its cameras because they offer a superior day/night mode and zoom capabilities, which may prove useful as elephants give birth at night to avoid predators in the wild.
The first camera has been placed in the elephant house, overlooking the area where mother Yasmin is expected to give birth. A second camera will cover two bathing pools to allow keepers to respond quickly if the new-born is pushed in by other elephants.
Both devices will be linked via the internet to a specialist elephant consultant at a zoo in San Diego, who will be able to give recommendations to vets at Dublin Zoo as the baby is born.
“It will be a real benefit to have one of the world’s experts on our shoulders if there any complications with the delivery,” said Paul O’Donoghue, assistant to the director at Dublin Zoo.
Axis managing director Steve Gorski said the installation demonstrates the benefits of IP surveillance.
“Dublin Zoo has found uses for our cameras which go far beyond standard surveillance to enabling an online community to check in on the imminent arrival of the baby elephant and even support animal conservation work.”
Missing eggs
This is not the first time the zoo has used cameras to monitor its animals. An Axis 225 fixed dome was used to watch over eggs which kept mysteriously disappearing from the Hornbill enclosure.
Senior keeper Eddie O’Brien said, “The Axis camera is in the nest so that if the eggs do go missing or are damaged we know very quickly what has happened and can avert any incident in the future.”
Keepers opted for the Axis 225 camera because its rugged design makes it a tough match for the Hornbill’s ivory beak, which has been known to destroy other cameras.