VIDEO: Potawatomi Zoo welcomes Masai giraffe calf
Potawatomi Zoo SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The Potawatomi Zoo announced the birth of a female Masai giraffe calf to mother Zindzhi on Sunday, Oct. 13.
Zoo officials say the calf was checked by veterinarian and animal care staff, and both she and Zindzhi seem to be healthy and thriving.
The calf was 135 pounds at birth and is about six feet tall.
“We’re so excited about this calf,” says Josh Sisk, executive director of the Potawatomi Zoo. “This is an incredible opportunity for us to educate our visitors about giraffes in the wild, which is at the heart of our mission. But not only that, it’s also an incredible opportunity for the community, who has supported the Zoo and its giraffes every step of the way, to watch our first calf grow up.”
Officials say the calf may be visible in the giraffe barn or outside, weather permitting. The calf’s outdoor access may be limited to sunny and 60 degrees.
Zoo officials say scientists estimate there are fewer than 90,000 giraffes in the world, and their conservation status is considered vulnerable to extinction.