Giraffe Baby 2009

The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens announced the birth of a male reticulated giraffe calf on July 7th at 6:07 p.m. He had to first handle a six foot drop from the end of the birth canal to the ground, but since movement is normally slow until the hips are clear, his front feet and head were close to the ground by the time the free fall began. Giving birth while standing is normal for giraffes and is natures way of breaking the umbilical cord.

The calf weighs 128 pounds, is five and one-half feet tall and doing well. The calf will be in the giraffe outside holding area beginning this weekend and can be seen up close from the train. A time-lapsed video of the birth and on-going progress of the calf will be available at jacksonvillezoo.org beginning Monday, July 13th.

This is the fifth offspring for the mother, Zawadi, a 15-year-old that came to Jacksonville from Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, Illinois, on May 4, 1996. The calfs father is Duke, the nearly 12-year-old patriarch of the giraffe herd, who has sired three of Zawadis four other offspring since he came to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens from the African Safari Wildlife Park in Port Clinton, Ohio, in April of 2003. This is the 28th giraffe born at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. The Zoo now has nine giraffes in its collection.

As in any birth, the first 24 hours is crucial, said Delfi Messinger, Director of Animal Programs for the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. After completion of a neonatal or well baby exam, the calf is off to a good start. The calf was standing on all fours within an hour of the birth and is now walking, sitting, standing and nursing properly. The keepers and Animal Health staff will continue to monitor the newborn closely, she concluded.

A big celebration is being planned for the release of mother and calf into the Giraffe Overlook exhibit in approximately two weeks. A press conference will be held at that time to announce the name of the major donor for the exhibit and the name theyve picked for the new baby giraffe.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• animal
• birth
• giraffe
• baby
• cute
• zoo
• jacksonville

[FaithHopeLuv1]

Beautiful! I feel bad for new born giraffes because when they're born the lad on their head.

[marcosacha]

!!! BEAUTIFUL !!!

[snaredrums123]

Zowadi is so FAT!!!

[33Keith33]

That was a long drop! Congrats for the new baby.