John Day Welcomes Baby Camel Cora to Growing Herd

Bactrian camel Hilde gives birth to first calf, drawing visitors to see the new addition

Mar. 31, 2026 at 4:00am

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a stylized camel figurine repeated in a tight grid pattern, capturing the playful energy and community pride surrounding the arrival of baby Cora the camel in John Day.The birth of baby Cora has made the Elliott family's Bactrian camels a beloved local attraction in the small town of John Day, Oregon.John Day Today

Grant County, Oregon's camel population has doubled with the birth of Cora, the first calf of Hilde, a 1,700-pound Bactrian camel brought to the area about a year ago by Talyn and Tabitha Elliott. Cora, born on March 20, 2026, is already attracting attention from passersby on West Bench Road as proud mom Hilde shows her off.

Why it matters

The arrival of Cora marks an exciting milestone for the small community of John Day, which has embraced Hilde and now her newborn calf as a unique local attraction. Camels are an uncommon sight in Oregon, making Hilde and Cora a rare and fascinating addition to the region's wildlife.

The details

Hilde was already pregnant when the Elliotts brought her from Oklahoma about a year ago, unbeknownst to the family. Hilde's 13-month gestation period stretched through the seasons, culminating in the birth of Cora, who weighed between 65 and 105 pounds at birth. The Elliotts' two children, ages 14 and 12, were excited to welcome the new calf. Talyn Elliott hopes to train Hilde and Cora to walk in a line behind him through town, and while he may breed Hilde again in the future, he's in no rush to do so.

  • Hilde arrived in John Day about a year ago from Oklahoma.
  • Hilde's 13-month gestation period began before she arrived in John Day.
  • Cora was born on March 20, 2026.
  • On March 22, 2026, Hilde brought Cora out to the front yard to 'show her off' to passersby on West Bench Road.

The players

Hilde

A 1,700-pound Bactrian camel brought to John Day, Oregon about a year ago by the Elliott family. Hilde gave birth to her first calf, Cora, on March 20, 2026.

Cora

Hilde's newborn Bactrian camel calf, born on March 20, 2026 in John Day, Oregon. Cora will have two prominent humps like her parents.

Talyn Elliott

Brought Hilde the Bactrian camel to John Day about a year ago, and is the father of two children who were excited to welcome Cora the newborn calf.

Tabitha Elliott

Talyn's wife, who correctly identified that Hilde was pregnant last summer, despite Talyn's initial skepticism.

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What they’re saying

“What happened is, Hilde was in a field with other female camels and a bull, and she wasn't supposed to have her first heat until spring. She went into heat a year early, and the camel rancher knew she'd gone into heat but wasn't sure if she'd actually been bred.”

— Talyn Elliott

“She's already getting a lot of socialization for sure.”

— Talyn Elliott

“They were just kind of in awe of the baby; it was cool. They didn't know what to think at first, and then they just started loving on her, and it was cute.”

— Talyn Elliott

What’s next

Talyn Elliott hopes to train Hilde and Cora to walk in a line behind him through the town of John Day, allowing more residents and visitors to see the unique camel pair.

The takeaway

The arrival of baby Cora marks an exciting new chapter for the small community of John Day, Oregon, which has embraced the rare presence of Bactrian camels Hilde and now her newborn calf as a beloved local attraction.