Modern Science.

Asian elephant Chai, 32 years old, was artificially inseminated over the weekend at Woodland Park Zoo. Dr. Dennis Schmitt (standing, in maroon shirt), a leading expert in elephant reproductive physiology, joined the zoo's elephant management and animal health staff in directing the assisted reproduction technique.

WOODLAND PARK ZOO INSEMINATES ASIAN ELEPHANT
Stephanie Klein
My Northwest.com

Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo has artificially inseminated Chai, a 32-year-old Asian elephant.

The father, 12-year-old bull, lives at the Albuquerque Biological Park Zoo. He hasn't had any offspring yet, which makes him genetically valuable to the North American population of elephants.

The gestation period for elephants is 22 months. The zoo will conduct an ultrasound at about 15 to 16 weeks to confirm a pregnancy.

If Chai is pregnant, her due date would be in early 2013. The last artificial insemination process involving Chai, in June 2010, did not result in pregnancy.

"Chai is very healthy and in excellent condition for pregnancy. Our fingers are crossed that she has conceived. Chai is a very good mother and we are confident she would use those maternal skills with a new calf," Bruce Upchurch, the zoo's Curator of Behavioral Management and Elephants, said in a news release.

Upchurch said Chai was calm during the insemination procedure. They gave her fresh cantaloupe, carrots, and other treats to help pass the time.

"She can choose to participate or not. We follow her cues," he said.

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Is this article referencing Samson as the donor? His brother Albert sired an offspring Daisy in 2009. Their father(Samson and Albert) Calvin has 10 living offspring.