Phoenix Zoo welcomes its new baby girl - a two-week-old female Masai giraffe. The youngest member of the zoo was born on February 7, 2022. The calf weighs 150 lbs calf and stands six feet tall. She is healthy and has an extremely close bond with her mother.
Phoenix Zoo introduced the calf as the third calf of its eight-year-old mother named Sunshine, and the fourth calf fathered by Miguee, a 13-year-old male giraffe, reports 12News.
According to the Phoenix Zoo Facebook post, the team expects the baby and mother giraffe to stay off exhibit in the next few weeks. Sunshine, the mother giraffe, is extremely protective of her new calf.
One commenter writes that she can't wait to see photos of the youngest giraffe in the zoo. Another found the calf tiny and adorable until she read that it stands six feet tall.
We welcomed a baby girl Masai giraffe, born on Monday, February 7. She is the third calf for eight-year-old mother Sunshine, and the fourth calf sired by 13-year-old father Miguu. ❤️ 🦒 pic.twitter.com/CUPy78cF8T
— Phoenix Zoo (@phoenixzoo) February 22, 2022
Masai Giraffe Used to Be the Most Populous
Masai giraffe, also known as the Kilimanjaro Giraffe, was the most populous giraffe with roughly 71,000 individuals three decades ago, according to Giraffe Conservation Foundation. Unfortunately, ongoing reports of poaching have caused the species to dwindle to roughly 45,400 in the wild today.
Due to continued poaching and other factors, the population of Masai giraffes has declined by roughly 50%. They are now listed as among the endangered species on the IUCN Red List.
Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi, is the largest giraffe subspecies of the nine subspecies of the family. They are easily distinguishable from their cousins Reticulated Giraffes due to their bodies' jagged and darker spots instead of the common polygonal liver-colored spots. Originally these tall wonders were dominant throughout Africa. However, due to deforestation, loss of habitat, and poaching, they can now only be found in the savannas of Tanzania, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya.
Female Masai giraffes can grow up to 16 feet tall and weigh between 1575 to 2700 pounds. Their tongues can grow up to 18 inches and they can run up to speeds of 35 miles per hour.
Giraffes don't have breeding seasons- Masai Giraffe breed from four-years-of age. Unfortunately, roughly 50-75% of calves die within the first few months, mostly due to predation. A single calf is born after about 14-15 months of gestation, much shorter than human gestation that lasts to 40 weeks.
ALSO READ: Asian Unicorn Now Critically Endangered; Hunt for Saolas Still on Progress to Prevent Extinction
Giraffe Startled after Student Jumps into Enclosure at Cameron Park Zoo
In other news, a student may face legal charges after a viral video shows the unidentified student jumping into the giraffe enclosure at Cameron Park Zoo to retrieve a paper, according to KCenTV.
The giraffe was startled by the unexpected human encroachment and scurried off the intersection. Meanwhile the student quickly climbed back up the wall, escaping the enclosure, as soon as his papers were retrieved.
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