The 250-pound calf was born to 14-year-old Bonnie, who until recently, was performing with the Ringling Bros. circus. Kenneth Feld, founder of the center for Elephant Conservation said that: "The reality is that the worldwide elephant population is declining, which means the overall mortality rate is increasing and that is a heart-breaking fact. That is why, at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, practical solutions that help to care for and to save these magnificent animals are critical." Thing is, the Ringling Bros. circus is a frequent target of animal rights activists - we hope little Barack isn't subjected to the same mistreatment as some of Ringling Bros. other Asian elephants. [ UPI]