JACKSONVILLE ZOO AND GARDENS

ANNOUNCES GIRAFFE BIRTH

September 1, 2006 – Jacksonville, FL – The staff at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is celebrating the birth of a male giraffe at the Zoo. The calf was born to Zawadi, a 12-year-old female, and Duke, a 9-year-old male, on August 29, 2006 at 11:05 a.m. and was making the first attempts to stand by 11:26 a.m.  This newborn calf is the 26th giraffe birth at the Zoo.  

A neonatal examination or “well baby” check was performed by the Animal Health staff on the calf to assess its health status. After the birth, mother and calf were kept secluded to determine if the calf was nursing properly and gaining weight. Some concern developed over the calf receiving adequate milk from its mother and supplemental bottle feedings were initiated.  Both mother and calf are now doing well with the calf showing weight gain.  The calf will continue to be monitored closely by Animal Health and Keeper staff.

Giraffes are the tallest animals and can reach up to eighteen feet in height and 1,200-4,000 lbs. in weight. At birth, calves are approximately six-feet tall and weigh between 110 and 120 lbs. Giraffe have been part of the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens collection since 1957.The new calf weighed 129 pounds at 3 days of age.

While the calf is not yet on exhibit in the Zoo’s new Giraffe Overlook, he and his mother may be seen from the Zoo train in an adjacent outdoor holding area, which serves as a natural progression between the protected environment of the barn and the open exhibit.