In February, the Toronto Zoo in Canada welcomed a baby who is most likely taller than you! Standing at 1.95 m (6 ft. 4 in.) a half hour after being born, the newborn Masai giraffe calf was a very happy (and very tall) addition to the zoo.
Like all giraffes, the female calf, named Imara, had a very long drop to the ground when she was born–about 2 m (6 ft.)! Watch a video of her birth here:
Imari and her mom, Mstari, are doing well and are being supervised by zoo staff.
According to Dolf DeJong, CEO, Your Toronto Zoo, “We announced Mstari’s pregnancy on Mother’s Day last year and after a 15-month pregnancy we are thrilled to have a healthy calf in our care, raising the profile of endangered Masai giraffes and inspiring our community to learn more and stand with us as Guardians of Wild.”
Fewer than 35,000 Masai giraffes survive in the wild, having experienced more than a 50% decline in the past 30 years. They are considered endangered by the IUCN, threatened by illegal hunting and habitat loss.
Toronto Zoo supports conservation efforts of Masai giraffes through its breeding programs and by supporting Wild Nature Institute’s Masai Giraffe Project. Learn more at Toronto Zoo’s website.
For more information about giraffes, see our article, Giraffe.
