Baby giraffe born at Kansas City Zoo is “already 1.68 meters tall”: “Welcome to the herd”
The female Masai giraffe “weighs about 125 pounds,” the zoo said
Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium/Facebook
The new baby giraffe at the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium
A baby giraffe was welcomed “into the herd” at the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium.
On Sunday, June 30, a female Masai giraffe was born to mother Makali and father Aidan at the Missouri facility, the zoo said in a post shared on Facebook.
“The calf weighs about 57 kilograms and is already 1.68 meters tall,” the zoo wrote. “A newborn examination has shown that the calf is in good health.”
“At the moment she is building a bond with her mother behind the scenes and will soon gradually get to know her herd mates,” the attraction continued.
According to the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium, in addition to the unnamed newborn and his parents, there are other members of the herd on site, including four-year-old Chandy and two-year-old Alika.
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Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium/Facebook
The new baby giraffe at the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium
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Earlier this week, the zoo posted an update on Facebook showing the newborn calf bonding with another giraffe.
“Baby’s first friend,” the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium wrote in its caption, sharing a photo of the baby animal with Chandy.
The facility said it will be “some time before this adorable girl makes her first public appearance.” The zoo added it will keep its fans updated on its social media pages on any developments, including the name they choose for the newborn.
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According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Masai giraffes are currently considered an endangered species.
“Over the past 35 years, the giraffe population has declined by almost 30 percent,” the zoo said, noting that it is working with the organization Save Giraffes Now to “ensure a safe future for the giraffe species.”
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