NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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October 27, 2009 |
| CONTACT: |
Cheryl Piropato, Education Director
260-427-6803 |
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Baby Giraffe Born at the Zoo
The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo welcomed its 15th baby reticulated giraffe
when female giraffe Zuri delivered a baby girl at 11:03 p.m. on Saturday,
October 17 in the African Journey.
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Baby Zahra. |
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This baby is Zuri’s sixth, and the third for Jelani, the baby’s
father. Giraffes are pregnant for about 15 months. Zuri
delivered the baby without assistance in the African Journey barn, with zoo
keepers and Zoo Veterinarian Joe Smith watching anxiously through a mesh
window.
Zuri is an experienced mother, and she knew just what to do during and
after the delivery, which took about three hours. Baby giraffes emerge
front feet first, followed by the head, neck, and body. As is typical
for giraffes, Zuri remained standing throughout the entire birth, and the
baby dropped gently onto the barn floor, which keepers had bedded with a
thick layer of wood shavings. After the delivery, Zuri immediately
began licking her baby as it blinked at its new surroundings.
Within 30 minutes, the baby was standing, and it began nursing within a
few hours – two important milestones that signal a healthy and strong baby.
On the wild African savannah, baby giraffes are easy prey for lions,
hyenas, and leopards, so the ability to move immediately is essential for
their survival.
Keepers left Zuri and her baby alone for a few days, then conducted the
baby’s first hands-on exam on Monday, October 19. With Zuri watching
from an adjacent stall in the barn, Dr. Smith confirmed the baby’s gender as
female, listened to her heart, inspected her eyes and peered into her mouth
(giraffes are born with a full set of teeth). The baby was 6 feet,
1-1/2 inches tall and weighed 137 pounds at her checkup.
Keepers named the baby Zahra, which means “flower” in Africa’s Swahili
language. It also reflects a unique flower-shaped design on Zahra’s neck.
The zoo has created a live Giraffe Web Cam so zoo fans can watch Zuri and
Zahra in the African Journey barn. The Giraffe Web Cam, a photo
gallery, and video of the baby’s birth can be accessed on the zoo’s web
site, kidszoo.org.
The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is one of the area’s major attractions and
was recently named one of the country’s “Ten Best Zoos for Kids”
by Parents magazine.
The zoo is closed for the regular season, but is open through October 31
for the Great Zoo Halloween event. Hours are 6:00-8:00 p.m.
weeknights; 5:00-8:00 p.m. Saturday. Admission is $7.00 for children; $5.00
for adults. The Eerie Express Train Ride, games, food, and souvenirs
are available at an additional charge.
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