150-pound newborn marks ‘significant’ birth for Tennessee zoo. Meet the 6-foot baby

Weighing in at a “whopping” 150 pounds and measuring 6 feet tall at the time of his birth, a new baby was born at Memphis Zoo.

The Tennessee zoo announced the birth of Fitz, a reticulated giraffe, on April 5.

He was born three days earlier on April 2, sharing a birthday with his dad Niklas, zookeepers said in a news release.

He has nine siblings on his dad’s side, and he’s one of the biggest among them, according to the zoo. His mom, Wendy, who has given birth to three other babies, has been “a very attentive mother and takes great care of Fitz,” the zoo said.

At only a few days old, Fitz already has fans excited to see him.

“This is absolutely precious,” one person said in response to the zoo’s announcement on Facebook.

Fitz is covered with the characteristic brown polygon spots of reticulated giraffes, which are the tallest land animals on the planet.

“Guess I have to go back next week,” another Facebook user wrote.

Zoo officials called Fitz’s birth “very significant” because it marks another success for the Species Survival Plan, which aims to ensure certain species’ populations in part by encouraging breeding.

“In the wild, giraffes as a species are undergoing what has been termed a ‘silent extinction’ as they’re rapidly disappearing in their native habitat,” zookeepers wrote. “The population overall has declined 40% in the last 30 years.”

His birth comes roughly a month after the death of another giraffe at the Memphis Zoo named Angela Kate, McClatchy News reported. Zookeepers said on March 14 that Angela Kate had to be euthanized after suffering a fall.

Fitz is anticipated to spend a few hours each day out on exhibit when “the weather is nice.”

This story was originally published April 8, 2024 at 3:37 PM with the headline "150-pound newborn marks ‘significant’ birth for Tennessee zoo. Meet the 6-foot baby."