UPDATE: On July 26, the Tulsa Zoo welcomed its newest female calf.
“Both mother and calf are doing well and being closely monitored by our animal care and veterinary staff,” said Tulsa Zoo Zoological Curator of Mammals Jordan Piha. “We’re watching for some important early milestones, but so far the calf appears healthy and strong.”
Born to giraffe mother Zoe, the baby stood only 30 minutes after being born — a big milestone in the wellness of baby giraffes, the zoo said.
The calf and her mom can be seen at the Osage Casino and Hotel Giraffe Barn, but the zoo said they may be in different areas at some times as the calf grows and learns to move around.
“We have also been watching the calf’s interactions closely with both her mother and the herd,” said Piha. “Zoe is a very attentive first-time mother, who instinctively began tending to her calf. The herd has also shown a great amount of curiosity toward the calf as it started exploring the reserve yard.”
A name for the calf should be released at a later date.
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The Tulsa Zoo is expecting a new little addition by the end of the summer.
On Friday, the zoo announced its giraffe Zoe is nearing the end of her first pregnancy.
“As with all pregnancies, there are risks, so we are closely monitoring Zoe," said Tulsa Zoo Curator of Mammals Jordan Piha. “Just like in human pregnancies, we monitor through ultrasound techniques. To do this, our animal care team put in a lot of work to teach her how to stand for ultrasounds.”
We’re thrilled to announce that Zoe, our four-year-old reticulated giraffe, is pregnant with her first calf! As with all pregnancies, there are risks, so our animal care and veterinary staff are monitoring Zoe closely. Zoe’s care team estimates the calf will be born this summer. pic.twitter.com/IQjRFM7uzv
— Tulsa Zoo (@TulsaZoo) June 30, 2023
Giraffes are typically pregnant for 14-15 months.
Zoe was bred with the male giraffe Hekaya. She is also currently the youngest and smallest member of the zoo's giraffes — that is until her baby comes along.
According to AZA’s Giraffe SAFE initiative, giraffes are classified as vulnerable to extinction, with fewer than 117,000 left in the wild.
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