Tall New Arrival Spotted at Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: September 13, 2020 1:05 am

The latest giraffe calf at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo

Photo Credit: Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo

The team at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo have welcomed the arrival of a female reticulated giraffe calf on Friday, September 4th 2020. Keepers note the calf is healthy and nursing from mom.

The calf was born to mom Faye. This is her second calf with the first, Thabisa born in November 2017.

Amber Eagleson, Area Curator for the African Journey and Indonesian Rain Forest, said “Keepers first noticed signs of labor with mom Faye around lunch time on Friday. Animal care and veterinarian staff monitored labor progression carefully, and at 2:03 pm the calf was born. The calf stood for the first time within 30 minutes and was successfully nursing within the hour.”

Within the first 24 hours of the birth vets were able to perform a neonatal exam. During this exam vets confirmed that the calf had received vital colostrum from the mother. “This is essential for the calf’s immune system development,” said staff veterinarian, Dr. Kami Fox.

With the arrival of this calf the herd of reticulated giraffes at Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo now includes seven members with two males and five females.

The latest giraffe calf at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo

Photo Credit: Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo

Currently mom and baby are bonding off-display to allow them to bond with the rest of the herd.

“If weather permits mom and baby may still make their formal appearance for guests in October,” said Bonnie Kemp, Director of Communication. “Watch our social media and website for updates on baby news and for the opportunity to help us name our little one.”

In the wild giraffes face a range of threats including poaching, habitat destruction and civil unrest. At Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo the calf will act as an ambassador for her species.

The zoo support the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) who research ways to protect wild giraffes.

Learn more about giraffe here – Giraffe Fact File | The Animal Facts

Learn more about Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo on their website – Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo