POWELL – The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is celebrating the arrival of a very important – and adorable — new face in the Heart of Africa region.
With enviable eyelashes and long wobbly legs, a male Masai giraffe calf was born on August 31 to mom, Zuri, zoo officials said.
More than just a pretty face, the calf is especially significant as his birth marks an important achievement for the future of an endangered species. one week ago.
This the 23rd giraffe born at the zoo but they’re calling this one a “miracle baby” because dad Enzi had to be humanely destroyed after he failed to respond to treatment for chronic health problems,
“We were heartbroken to lose Enzi, and this calf is such an amazing gift to us and to the future of all Masai giraffes. This little one is truly our miracle baby, and it warms our hearts that Enzi’s legacy continues to live on to have such a positive impact,” said Shannon Borders, curator of the zoo’s Heart of Africa region.
The zoo’s animal care team continues to observe 12-year-old Zuri and her calf while they bond in the Giraffe Barn and a behind-the-scenes yard.
A day after his birth, zoo staffers completed a wellness exam on the calf and confirmed that he seems to be healthy and well fed.
The Masai giraffe is an endangered subspecies. Experts estimate there are only 35,000 of them remaining due to habitat loss, civil unrest, military operations, poaching and ecological changes.