Kansas City Zoo welcomes third giraffe since November. ‘Baby boom at the barn!’
When it comes to its herd of giraffes, the Kansas City Zoo has been cranking out the baby announcements in recent months.
Last week, the zoo welcomed yet another — the third baby Masai giraffe in less than four months. This one, baby Nora, is 6 feet tall. Her mom Makali gave birth on Feb. 7.
“What a baby boom at the barn!” the Kansas City Zoo’ wrote in an Instagram post this week. “At less than a week old, Nora is already bonding with brother Beni and sister Aspen, who share the same father, 6-year-old Aidan.”
Aspen was born at the end of December and Beni in early November.
Typically, giraffe calves are 100 to 150 pounds at birth, said Ellie McMullen, the zoo’s communications manager. Zookeepers don’t know yet how much Nora weighs.
“We take our cues from the giraffe mom and minimize contact with the calf in its first few days so they can bond,” McMullen said, “so we have not weighed Nora yet.”
The giraffe herd stays behind the scenes at the zoo as construction continues on the new complex which is slated to open early this summer. But pictures on social media of these newborns have been drawing the fans in recent months.
In less than 24 hours, the zoo’s Facebook post announcing Nora had more than 5,000 reactions, 428 shares and 200 or so comments.
“Such a cutie!!” one admirer wrote. “And she loves the camera! Can’t wait to see her when the new exhibit opens up.”
Added another: “Adorable! Can’t wait to see these beautiful creatures in their new habitat. Staying tuned!”
And the Instagram announcement of Nora, had its fair share of people excited to see her and her siblings and others in the herd.
“Baby giraffes are so darn cute!” one person wrote on the Instagram post about Nora. “Love her serious little face.”
Masai giraffes are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the zoo said. It has been partnering with @savegiraffesnow on co-existence projects in the Athi-Kapiti region of Kenya, a heavily populated region where human and wildlife conflict is a constant struggle.
The Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium is accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, McMullen said, and participates in its Species Survival Plan (SSP) for giraffes, which “aims to ensure the genetic diversity and long-term health of the species in human care.”
“We were very gratified to have SSP recommendations for all three of the female giraffes to breed with male Aidan,” she said.
