State's elk population grows by 40 head

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri conservation officials have added 40 elk to the state's population as part of a project to restore the animals to the state.

Conservation Department officials had expected to bring 39 elk from Kentucky this week, but a male calf was born on the way.

The elk are being held at the Peck Ranch Conservation area in southeastern Missouri until they become accustomed to the state's climate.

In 2011, the Conservation Department began bringing elk to a restoration zone covering 221,000 acres in Shannon, Carter and Reynolds counties, about 100 miles west of Cape Girardeau.

Officials estimated Wednesday that there are approximately 110 elk in Missouri, including those that arrived this week.