Whipsnade Zoo reveals elephant calf's name chosen in fundraising appeal

The Asian elephant calf has been named Anusorn – pronounced Ah-Noo-Sawn – with keepers already affectionately calling him Anu.

It was chosen by Aoife Daly, from London, through a prize draw raising money for the zoo and conservation charity ZSL.

For Aoife and her family, the name carries a deeply personal meaning.

She said: "I entered on my partner Rob's birthday, as elephants are his favourite animal. After he sadly lost his dad, Mike, last year, I wanted to honour his memory in a special way. That's why I chose the name Anusorn, which means 'remembrance', a fitting tribute and a wonderful way to celebrate his legacy."

As part of the prize, Aoife and Rob will spend time with the zoo's elephant team caring for the herd and enjoy an overnight stay at Whipsnade's Lookout Lodge.

Anusorn was born on June 8, to mother Donna, surrounded by the family herd, including grandmother Kaylee and older sister Nang Phaya.

His arrival marks an important addition to the European conservation breeding programme for Asian elephants, a species threatened in the wild by habitat loss, habitat fragmentation and climate change.

Money raised in the naming appeal will support ZSL's wider conservation work protecting wildlife around the world, and projects aimed at reducing conflict between people and wild elephants in Thailand.

One initiative encourages farmers to grow coffee instead of sugar cane, helping to protect crops from elephants while providing a sustainable source of income.

Visitors can catch a glimpse of Anusorn with the rest of Whipsnade Zoo's elephant herd throughout the summer.

The zoo will host its Giant Elephant Weekend on August 15 and 16 to celebrate World Elephant Day, featuring keeper talks, drawing classes and behind-the-scenes experiences.