Giraffe Calf Being Hand-Reared at Perth Zoo

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: October 9, 2021 12:35 am

A male giraffe calf born on Saturday October 2nd 2021 at Perth Zoo is now being hand-reared by keepers

Photo Credit: Perth Zoo

Perth Zoo have announced that keepers are providing care to their male giraffe calf born on Saturday October 2nd 2021.

First-time mother Ellie unfortunately had difficulty caring for her calf. Zoologists and vets had been monitoring the calf and noted that Ellie was nervous and moving away from her calf when it tried to suckle.

With keepers needing to make sue the calf had been receiving enough nutrients to remain strong and healthy it became clear keepers would need to intervene.

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Initially the Perth Zoo team sought to introduce the calf to another female giraffe, Kitoto, who is also caring for a calf. It was hoped that she would adopt him as her own but unfortunately it was not meant to be.

Therefore keepers made the decision to take on hand-rearing the calf. While it took a few days for the calf to adjust he has now taken to the bottle and is fed several times each day with special formula.

While it is a massive undertaking, and not the preferred outcome, the zoo had prepared for the eventuality that this may occur. Hand-rearing of giraffe has successfully been done at Perth Zoo and other zoos in Australia.

As this is a sensitive time for the calf it is being raised in an off-display area and is not visible.