It took over an hour of coaxing from her mother, Clover, but the baby giraffe born at Como Zoo stepped out from her bedroom and into the outdoor yard for the first time to the cheers of visitors and zoo staff on September 8th. With her mother always near, the baby giraffe is busy running and exploring all corners of her home. Born Sunday, September 1st standing 5 foot 8 inches and 130 pounds, she has already grown a few inches and gained a few pounds in one week.
She is the 5th calf born to mom, Clover and the 17th giraffe birth at Como in the last 20 years. Como’s current herd consists of Clover, Daisy, Skeeter (father) and the yet-to-be-named female.
The giraffe is the tallest of all land-living animal species. They can be as tall as 18 feet tall and have a prehensile (used for grasping) tongue as long as 18 inches. During the first two years of a giraffe’s life, it doubles it height and can be over 12-feet tall. Giraffe gestation lasts between 14 and 15 months, after which a single calf is born. Like human fingerprints, the markings or spots of a giraffe’s coat are unique to each individual. Reticulated giraffes are native to the dry savannahs and open woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa.
The giraffe is available for sponsorship. Sponsoring an animal is a unique way to help Como Zoo with its wildlife conservation efforts. Donations support enhanced habitats and efforts to maintain the best care possible for the animals at Como Zoo.
