Pregnant elephant told to lose 225kg

A pregnant elephant in the US will master the art of yoga as part of zookeepers' plans to shed a whopping 225kg from her frame.

Tess, a 33-year-old Asian elephant at Houston Zoo in Texas, is currently nine months into her 22-month pregnancy and weighs more than 3000kg, ABC News reports.

If she remains overweight, Tess runs the risk of her calf becoming too big and getting stuck during birth.

As part of the new routine, the expectant mother-of-two will practice elephant yoga and walk up to 3.2km each day.

She will also be served smaller portions of her already health-conscious diet of hay, grain and produce – with the occasional popcorn treat.

Although 225kg might sound like a lot to lose, zoo staff say it's a realistic target considering Tess' size.

Source: ABC News

Author: Chloe Ross, Approving editor: Nick Pearson