BANGKOK, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Thailand has seen the first ever birth of an African elephant in captivity on the soil of the kingdom at a state-owned zoo in northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima, news network The Nation reported Monday.

    The male elephant baby is only the third African elephant in Thailand. Born exactly at 4:09 a.m. Sunday morning (2109 GMT, Saturday), he is fathered by Ap and mothered by Jaew, both 17 years old, who were the first pair of African elephants brought to Thailand from Kruger National Park in South Africa in 1998, said the report.

    Director of Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo, Banyat Insuwan said the baby elephant was healthy and measured 40 kg in weight, 70 cm in height and 100 cm in length.

    His name is pending result of a naming contest and competitors can send the names in postcards to the zoo, Banyat said.