WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) -- The Sedgwick County Zoo says one of its four pregnant elephants has given birth. The zoo says the boy is a healthy African elephant calf. This marks an exciting milestone for the institution. The calf was born to mother Talia on Thursday, and both mother and baby are d oing well. The calf's name is Bomani, which means “warrior” in Swahili. Bomani and Talia (Courtesy Sedgwick County Zoo) “We are overjoyed to welcome this precious new addition to our Zoo family,” Scott Newland, Sedgwick County Zoo president and CEO, said in a news release. "This birth is a significant moment for the Zoo and serves as a symbol of hope for the future of African elephants in our North American population.” Sedgwick County Zoo welcomes newborn chimpanzee Zookeepers say Bomani stood up in the first few minutes after being born. He is already exploring his surroundings under the watchful eyes of his mother and the rest of the herd. The mother and baby will be kept behind the scenes while the zoo's veterinary and elephant care teams monitor for bonding, nursing and positive herd behaviors. This is Sedgwick County Zoo's first successful elephant birth. It had been preparing for the birth of five elephant calves, but last month, one of the pregnancies ended in a stillbirth. The three other expectant elephants, Xolani, Arusi, and Zuberi, are all pregnant with their first offspring and are due between spring and fall. Sedgwick County Zoo needs more space for baby elephants The zoo says the pregnancies are the result of years of careful planning and effort to establish a successful breeding program, which is aligned with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums African elephant Species Survival Plan to support the health and sustainability of African elephant populations. Bomani (Courtesy Sedgwick County Zoo) “The arrival of this calf is a celebration of the vital work we do to protect endangered species,” Newland said. “We hope the public will be inspired to learn more about African elephants and the challenges they face, and be part of the solution to help protect them for generations to come.” For more information about the elephants at Sedgwick County Zoo, click here. ...read more read less