A Baby Giraffe Just Arrived at the Columbus Zoo — What to Know Before You Visit
If your family has been looking for the perfect reason to plan a trip to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, this might be it: there’s a brand-new baby giraffe.
A male Masai giraffe calf was born on March 10 at 6:16 p.m. local time in the zoo’s Heart of Africa region, according to a March 20 press release from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. The little guy is healthy, active and already bonding with his experienced mom — and the zoo says the public will get to meet him soon.
The calf was born to 15-year-old mother Zuri and 6-year-old father Bobbie. This is Zuri’s third calf and Bobbie’s first.
Zuri previously gave birth to Ralph in 2020 and Charlie in 2022, and both of her older sons still live at the Columbus Zoo. That means this new little one already has two big brothers waiting for him.
“An experienced mom, Zuri is settling in well with her calf. Her other sons, Ralph and Charlie, also live at the Zoo,” the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium said in a Facebook post. “For now, the calf is spending time bonding with Zuri behind the scenes.”
According to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, the calf stood, took early steps, and began nursing shortly after birth. He is now acclimating to his surroundings in the giraffe barn.
“He was standing, taking early steps, and beginning to nurse shortly after birth,” the organization said, adding: “Zuri is calm and attentive, while our Animal Care and Conservation Medicine teams continue to closely monitor both mom and baby.”
That behind-the-scenes bonding time between Zuri and her calf is an important part of the process, and families should know the calf is not yet available for public viewing. But the wait shouldn’t be too long.
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium said it will share updates on calf viewing, naming, development, and herd introductions in the coming weeks. On Facebook, the zoo wrote, “We look forward to you meeting this little one soon.”
Masai giraffes are listed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This calf marks the 23rd surviving giraffe calf born at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, reflecting the facility’s long-running commitment to the species.
“Welcoming a giraffe calf reflects the care, expertise and collaboration that guide our work every day,” said Tom Schmid, president and CEO of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. “This birth is a testament to the dedication of our teams and our shared commitment to protecting Masai giraffes for the future.”
For families ready to start planning, the best move right now is to follow the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium on Facebook or check the zoo’s website for updates on when the calf will make his public debut, what his name will be, and when he’ll be introduced to the rest of the herd. Stay tuned — this is one family outing you won’t want to miss.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
