Masai giraffe calf is second to be born at The Wilds in just over a week

CUMBERLAND − The Wilds’ Masai giraffe herd has welcomed the arrival of a second endangered calf in just over a week. The male calf was born during the late evening of Aug. 26. This birth marks the 23rd giraffe calf born at the conservation center in its history.

The calf stood soon after birth and continues to be strong and healthy. This calf is the third for its mother, Lulu, who was born at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden in 2012 and arrived at The Wilds in 2014.

The calf’s father, Raha, was born at the Los Angeles Zoo in April 2006 and arrived at The Wilds from the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium in 2009, where he has since sired 12 calves.

On Aug. 17, The Wilds also welcomed a female calf. She is the seventh calf born to 20-year-old mother, Savannah, and the sire is Raha.

The breeding of the giraffe pairs was based on a recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan, a program designed to increase the genetic health and diversity of threatened and endangered species in professional care.

The births are a significant achievement for the future of Masai giraffes. In 2019, the International Union for Conservation of Nature listed the Masai giraffe subspecies as endangered as the population has plummeted by nearly 50 percent over the last three decades.

There are estimated to be only 35,000 Masai giraffes remaining in their native ranges in southern Kenya and north and central Tanzania primarily due to habitat loss, civil unrest and military operations, poaching and ecological changes.

To further protect the future of giraffes, The Wilds and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium have provided more than $172,000 over the last five years to support conservation projects benefiting giraffes in their native ranges. These funds support several conservation projects in giraffe range countries across Africa. This includes a giraffe-specific initiative through the Hirola Conservation Programme in Kenya, Wild Nature Institute’s Serengeti Giraffe Conservation Research project based in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, the Giraffe Research and Conservation Trust in Kenya and the Giraffe Conservation Foundation in Namibia and Uganda.

“Every birth of an endangered species is important and welcoming two Masai giraffe calves is particularly special,” said Joe Smith, vice president of The Wilds. “We are proud of the continued success of our giraffe program and we look forward to seeing the calves play and interact with one another, grow and further contribute to the conservation of their species.”

Calves are born after a gestation period of approximately 15 months. The mother gives birth standing up and calves can stand and run on their own within a few hours of birth.

Male giraffes can grow to be 18 feet tall at the tips of their ossicones and weigh between 1,800 and 4,300 pounds. Females are between 13 and 15 feet tall and weigh between 1,200 and 2,600 pounds. Giraffes are the tallest of all extant land-living animal species and are the largest ruminants.

For more information about The Wilds, its conservation initiatives, educational offerings and how to become a member or schedule a tour, go to thewilds.org. The Wilds can also be found on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok.

Information and photos provided by The Wilds and Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: The Wilds welcomes an endangered Masai giraffe calf