Elephants are one of nature’s most fascinating creatures, and their pregnancies are extraordinary. A female elephant carries her baby for about 22 months, the longest gestation period of any land animal. When the baby is finally born, the mother and the herd immediately spring into action. You’ll often see the mother and other female elephants surrounding the newborn, helping it to stand, nudging it gently, and guiding it to take its first wobbly steps. They move in circles around the calf, offe