Taronga Zoo names little miracle

Taronga Zoo's new baby elephant is no longer called Mr Shuffles - he has officially been named Pathi Harn.

The name means "miracle" in the Thai language, reflecting the fact that he was born alive on March 10 after experts mistakenly assumed he had died in his mother's womb.

He was nicknamed Mr Shuffles by zoo staff because his early walking attempts resembled the shuffle of an elderly man.

Nickname 'will stick'

At a naming ceremony at the zoo on Thursday, NSW Environment Minister Frank Sartor conceded the nickname would probably stick with him.

"Pathi Harn will of course be the name that will replace Mr Shuffles which I suppose will remain the nickname."

The name was one of seven Thai names put forward for the elephant.

With the help of almost 10,000 members of the community who voted in a poll, zoo keepers deemed Pathi Harn the clear favourite.

He is the third elephant to be born in an Australian zoo.

Cousin to Luk Chai

His cousin Luk Chai was born at Taronga zoo nine months ago, while Melbourne Zoo was the venue for the birth of a female calf in January.

The elephants' mothers were brought to Australia from Thailand in 2008.

There had been criticism over whether the elephants could breed in Australia, Mr Sartor said, but the "Mr Shuffles" story had become "quite an important folk story in Australia".

When he came back from the dead it was news "everywhere", Mr Sartor said - "in the US, Asia, the Pacific, New York Times, Himalayan Times".

Blessed by Thai monks

Thai Consul General Kiattikhun Chartprasert said the miracle of Pathi Harn's birth celebrated "the beauty of life while respecting the possibility of death at the same time".

"I believe the miracle of this calf will become another part of the Thai legacy in Australia," he said.

After he was given his official name, Thai monks gaven Pathi Harn a blessing.

A fourth baby elephant is due at Taronga Zoo in December.