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Baby Giant Born at the Zoo!
Second Birth at Houston Zoo since March 2007The Houston Zoo is proud to announce the birth of a giant eland calf, the second such birth at the Houston Zoo since March, 2007. The as yet unnamed 74 pound male calf was born in the Zoo’s giant eland exhibit on Tuesday, August 5, 2008. “Mom and baby are doing fine,” said Large Mammal Curator Daryl Hoffman. “His mother, Dorothy is very caring and attentive. The calf is very strong. We’ve seen numerous instances of nursing,” said Hoffman.
The world’s largest antelope, giant eland made their Houston Zoo debut in April of 2003. The calf’s mother, Dorothy is 5 years old and weighs more than 800 pounds. Dorothy and the newborn may be seen daily in the Zoo’s giant eland exhibit. The calf was born after a 9 month gestation period.
Giant eland inhabit only a small fraction of their former range in Africa's west and central woodlands. Social animals, giant eland are found in small groups in their native habitat.
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