DES MOINES, Iowa — An Iowa zoo announced “a very special package” on Friday -- the birth of a male giraffe calf.
Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines announced that the calf was born Tuesday at 4:29 a.m. CDT.
A calf was born to parents Zola, 6, and Jakobi, 17, the Des Moines Register reported. According to a release from the zoo, the baby was measured at 5 feet, 5 inches tall and 107 pounds just 30 hours after his birth.
“We are cautiously optimistic the calf is healthy because he passed all the major milestones for a newborn which include quickly learning to stand, walk and nurse from mom regularly, chief animal officer Jay Tetzloff said in a statement. “However, this is Zola’s first calf and mortality for calves is higher for a firstborn.”
Zola has lived at Blank Park Zoo since 2017, KCCI-TV reported. Jakobi is 17 years old and has previously sired several calves.
The zoo welcomed Raza, a male giraffe calf, born on Jan. 18, 2021, the Register reported.
“We are fortunate that the birthing process was quick and Zola has been a great mother, allowing the calf to nurse quickly,” zoo veterinarian Drew Gall said in a statement.
Zoo officials said that beginning Wednesday, the zoo will release several possible names and ask the public to vote. More information will be available at www.blankparkzoo.com.
The giraffe population has declined dramatically in the wild by 35% to 40% since 1985 due to poaching, human population growth, habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The agency estimated that fewer than 100,000 giraffes remain in the wild.
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