"Alice," one of three African elephants at Roger Williams Park Zoo is given a bath just prior to undergoing artificial insemination on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007 in Providence, R.I. The insemination was the zoo's first attempt at breeding any of its elephants, though the animal care staff have been carefully preparing for the opportunity for over seven years.

It won't be known if the insemination was a success until May, when hormone blood tests and possibly an ultrasound can confirm or deny a pregnancy.
(Photo/ Victoria Arocho, Rocka*Rho Publishing)

Dennis Schmitt, DVM PhD, a Board Certified Veterinary Reproductive Specialist from Missouri State University opens a specialized container holding elephant sperm Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007 inside the veterinarian hospital at Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, RI.

The sample was used to perform the first elephant artificial insemination ever attempted at Roger Williams Park Zoo, with an African elephant named "Alice." The sample, was collected earlier Saturday from "Jack" a male elephant at the Pittsburgh Zoo in Pennsylvania. The sample had to be flown to Rhode Island so that the insemination attempt could be performed that same day. (Photo/ Victoria Arocho, Rocka*Rho Publishing)

Dennis Schmitt, DVM PhD, a Board Certified Veterinary Reproductive Specialist from Missouri State University examines elephant sperm through a microscope Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007 inside the veterinarian hospital at Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, RI.

The sample was used to perform the first elephant artificial insemination ever attempted at Roger Williams Park Zoo, with an African elephant named "Alice." The sample, was collected earlier Saturday from "Jack" a male elephant at the Pittsburgh Zoo in Pennsylvania. The sample had to be flown to Rhode Island so that the insemination attempt could be performed that same day. (Photo/ Victoria Arocho, Rocka*Rho Publishing)

Dennis Schmitt, DVM PhD, a Board Certified Veterinary Reproductive Specialist from Missouri State University guides an endoscopic camera inside the reproductive tract of "Alice" the African elephant Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007 at Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, RI.

It was the zoo's first attempt at breeding any of its elephants and it won't be known if the insemination was a success until May 2007, when hormone blood tests and possibly an ultrasound can confirm or deny a pregnancy.
(Photo/ Victoria Arocho, Rocka*Rho Publishing)

Dennis Schmitt, right, DVM PhD, a Board Certified Veterinary Reproductive Specialist from Missouri State University guides an endoscopic camera inside the reproductive tract of "Alice" the African elephant as his graduate assistant Kristy Marson, center, and elephant keeper Brett Haskins, bottom left, assist Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007 at Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, RI.

It was the zoo's first attempt at breeding any of its elephants and it won't be known if the insemination was a success until May 2007, when hormone blood tests and possibly an ultrasound can confirm or deny a pregnancy.
(Photo/ Victoria Arocho, Rocka*Rho Publishing)

Dennis Schmitt, center, DVM PhD, a Board Certified Veterinary Reproductive Specialist from Missouri State University guides an endoscopic camera inside the reproductive tract of "Alice" the African elephant as his graduate assistant Kristy Marson, right, and elephant keeper Brett Haskins, bottom left, assist Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007 at Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, RI.

It was the zoo's first attempt at breeding any of its elephants and it won't be known if the insemination was a success until May 2007, when hormone blood tests and possibly an ultrasound can confirm or deny a pregnancy.
(Photo/ Victoria Arocho, Rocka*Rho Publishing)

Dennis Schmitt, right, DVM PhD, a Board Certified Veterinary Reproductive Specialist from Missouri State University guides an endoscopic camera inside the reproductive tract of "Alice" the African elephant as his graduate assistant Kristy Marson, center, and elephant keeper Brett Haskins, bottom left, assist Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007 at Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, RI.

It was the zoo's first attempt at breeding any of its elephants and it won't be known if the insemination was a success until May 2007, when hormone blood tests and possibly an ultrasound can confirm or deny a pregnancy.
(Photo/ Victoria Arocho, Rocka*Rho Publishing)

 

*All photos taken by Victoria Arocho, Rocka*Rho Publishing