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Baby Giraffe Born August 10, 2009
Update August 17, 2009: The giraffe calf born Monday August 10 at the Houston Zoo has a name! Giraffe keepers have chosen the name “Hasani” which means handsome in Swahili. His name is prounounced ha-SAN-ee.
The Houston Zoo’s Masai giraffe herd has grown to 7 with the addition of a bouncing baby boy. The calf was born to mom Tyra shortly after 8 a.m. on Monday, August 10. “Tyra went into labor around 6 in the morning and the calf was standing and nursing by 9 a.m.,” said Hoofed Stock Supervisor Laurie McGivern. “He’s a big boy,” said McGivern. Tyra always delivers big babies but this big boy stands a bit over 6 feet tall,” she added. Tyra is 11 years old. Kiva, the father is 13 years old.
Giraffe Birth Video
Giraffe Birth Video
The arrival of the newborn giraffe follows the birth of another Masai giraffe this year, Miles on January 30 to Noel. With the latest arrival, the Houston Zoo’s herd of Masai giraffe now includes 4 males and 3 females.
While Masai giraffes are not threatened or endangered in their native habitat, there are only 88 of them in North American zoos. Giraffe breeding at the Houston Zoo follows guidelines established by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association’s Population Management Plan (PMP) program. PMPs have been developed for selected groups of animals to manage breeding of captive populations in order to maintain healthy, self-sustaining populations that are both genetically diverse and demographically stable.
Giraffes are the tallest living terrestrial animal. The average male is about 17 feet tall and can weigh 3,000 pounds, while an average female is over 14 feet tall. On average, Masai giraffes weigh between 125 and 150 pounds at birth and stand approximately 6 feet tall.
Comments for Baby Giraffe Born August 10, 2009:
Total Comments: 8
That was great. That should be seen by ever child in the world. This is life at its best. I was raise in Channelview and our family took many trips to the Houston Zoo. Found something new every trip. The next time I in Houston I will come and check out the newest baby, and everything else. Thanks again Vance.
That is such a beautiful baby. Thank you for posting the video.
Just BEAUTIFUL!!! We can't wait to see him!
Wow! First the antelope, now a giraffe. I must get to the zoo soon!
splendid
es beautiful muah ilove you houston zoo
Welcome!! We cant wait to see you, very soon!
Thank you very much for the beautiful video of the birth of baby jiraffe Hasani. I send the video to my family in Chile. Best, Patricia Koch