Unexpected Baby Giraffe at the Maryland Zoo
Maryland Zoo’s Newest Giraffe Gives Birth To Unexpected Baby
Maryland Zoo’s newest giraffe is no longer its newest after giving birth to an unexpected female baby giraffe on March 27.
Kipepeo, the four-year-old reticulated giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulate) who arrived in Baltimore last November, was not known to be pregnant. When keepers noticed a slight change in her behavior on March 26, they began monitoring Kipi, as she is called. Kipi began labor and gave birth in the early morning of the 27th.
“Gestation for reticulated giraffe is around 450 days, so Kipi was pregnant when she arrived in Baltimore,” said Erin Cantwell Grimm, Mammal Curator at the Maryland Zoo. “We’re keeping a close eye on the calf to make sure she hits her growth milestones, and so far, we like what we’re seeing.”
The new calf, which has yet to be named, weighs 58 kilograms and is approximately 6 feet tall. She is nursing well, and Kipi is being a great first-time mother.
There was no record of Kipi breeding before she was transferred to Maryland, and giraffes tend not to show signs of pregnancy due to their large body size. Often, a fecal hormone analysis is needed to detect a pregnancy.
Maryland Zoo’s male giraffe and okapi (Okapia johnstoni) will be visible in their outside habitats, but the interior of the Giraffe House will be closed for the time being to give the new mother and her calf time to bond.
Visit Marylandzoo.org to plan your visit and learn more about the reticulated giraffe.
