Nelly Christmas! Baby elephant is an early festive treat for his first-time mother Uzuri

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An adorable baby elephant has been born at a UK wildlife reserve just in time for Christmas. 

The small calf, currently unnamed, was born to first-time mother Uzuri and the herd's resident bull, Coco.

Keepers arrived at work on Monday morning to discover the newborn.

The calf was born at Howletts Wild Animal Park in Canterbury, Kent. 

The small calf was discovered by keepers arriving to work in the morning, with CCTV monitoring showing the mother going into labour at 3am and giving birth at 6am

The calves stay very close to their mothers following birth and drink three gallons of milk every day for two years 

Elephant keeper Natalie Boyd said: 'We were monitoring the elephant house CCTV from home so we know Uzuri went into labour at 3am.

'She moved outside to give birth and the calf had arrived by 6am.

'Mother and baby are doing well and are being fussed over by the entire herd, especially Uzuri's mother, Tammi.' 

Adrian Harland, the park's animal director, said: 'What a brilliant way to start December.

'We have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the newest member of our herd and the entire team are absolutely delighted to welcome him. 

'He is already making himself very much at home and meeting the herd, who are even more excited than the keepers.' 

The calf was born at Howletts Wild Animal Park in Canterbury, Kent. Mother and baby are 'doing well' and being 'fussed over' by the entire herd

The gestation period, the time taken to develop inside the womb, is approximately 22 months for African elephants

The small calf was born to first-time mother Uzuri and the herd's resident bull, Coco. Howletts cares for over 400 animals across 50 species in the 100 acre park

The gestation period for African elephants is approximately 22 months.

Calves stay very close to their mothers and drink three gallons of milk every day for two years, but will sometimes continue to suckle for much longer. 

Howletts is home to the largest herd of African elephants in the UK and the new arrival takes the total up to 13. 

The baby is the 24th elephant to be born at Howletts since its opening in 1975. 

The park's animal director, Adrian Harland, said the calf has already met the herd and is making himself 'very much at home' 

The calf's arrival takes the wildlife reserve's total of African elephants up to 13. Howletts also breeds black rhinos, western lowland gorillas and clouded leopards 

The African Elephant, classed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species, can measure up to 11ft high and weigh over 6 tonnes.

The adult elephants can eat over 150kg in one day and drink 135 litres of water. 

In the wild, the elephants live in herds of related females led by the oldest, with bulls leaving the herd at puberty to form 'bachelor' groups. 

Howletts also breeds other rare and endangered species, including black rhinos, western lowland gorillas and clouded leopards.