|
MEDIA
RELEASE
August 13, 2010
502-744-5639 Media Cell
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Louisville Zoo celebrates the birth of another
giraffe
(EDITOR’S NOTE: There are some limited opportunities for
photos/footage/interviews.
9:30 – 11:30 am Saturday Aug 28 or Monday, Tuesday Aug 30 & 31, 9:30 –
11:30 am.
Please call to schedule times. Zoo photos are attached.)
 A
new baby Masai giraffe was born on Wednesday, July 21, at the Louisville
Zoo.
At 11 p.m., 13-year-old Malaika gave birth to
her fourth offspring—a 180-pound, 6 ½ foot male. The baby dropped 6-feet
to the ground from his mother, who gave birth standing
up. He stood for the first time within an hour of birth. Walker,
age 17, is the father.
The new calf is named Oliver, a name chosen by
the first keeper who discovered the birth. Although the calf’s mother
Malaika showed strong maternal behaviors, Oliver was unsuccessful in
learning to nurse within the first forty-eight hours, a critical time to
pass on the mother’s immunity. The calf was given a plasma transfer
intravenously to provide that immunity. Zoo Veterinarian Roy Burns
explained that this procedure is commonly used under these circumstances
and “greatly increases the calf’s ability to resist infection.” He
added that “we will still keep a close eye on him as he will be more
prone to infection.”
Because Oliver is not nursing, he will be
bottle fed by the giraffe keepers. Lead giraffe keeper Silvia
Zirkelbach described Oliver as “a very strong, active giraffe and quite
feisty.” She and her staff have worked patiently with a rambunctious
Oliver to train him to take milk from a bottle. He will be fed five
times daily.
The new calf has been introduced to most of the
other giraffes in the herd. According to Zirkelbach, Oliver will be on
exhibit on a limited and flexible basis for some time pending weather
and his feeding schedule. Those who are interested can see pictures and
follow the baby’s progress on the Zoo’s website.
The Louisville Zoo has had a successful giraffe
breeding program over the years and this calf is the 21st giraffe to be
born at the Zoo. There are currently six Masai giraffes at the
Louisville Zoo—the newborn calf, his mother Malaika and father Walker,
as well as Crosby who was born this past January, and Bakari, born in
February 2009.
This planned birth was a recommendation from
the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Masai giraffe Population
Management Plan (PMP), a cooperative animal management program that
identifies population management goals and recommendations that will
ensure the sustainability of a healthy, genetically diverse and
demographically varied population. For more information on PMPs, visit
http://www.aza.org/population-management-plan-programs/.
GIRAFFES
Giraffes are the tallest of land mammals and
have single births after a gestation period of 14-16 months. Mothers
give birth while standing and the young fall five to six feet upon
delivery. Offspring are usually 6-feet tall at birth.
Male giraffes grow to be 15-18 feet tall and
weigh 1,200-1,800 pounds. The signature long neck only has seven
vertebrae, the same as most mammals. To counteract the demands of such a
long neck, there are valves in the veins of the neck to prevent blood
from rushing back too fast. They also have a massive heart (which is
about 2 feet long and weighs about 25 pounds in adults) and extremely
high blood pressure which is necessary to force blood up the seven or
eight foot path to the brain.
Photo courtesy of the Louisville Zoo, Robert
Kemnitz photographer
***
The
Louisville Zoo, a non-profit organization and state zoo of Kentucky,
is dedicated to bettering the bond between people and our planet by
providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for
visitors, and leadership in scientific research and conservation
education. The Zoo is accredited by the American Association of
Museums (AAM) and by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
***
Get
up-to-date information about the Zoo’s upcoming Glacier Run exhibit
by checking out our new
Glacier Run blog. You can also show your love for the Louisville
Zoo by becoming a fan on
Facebook and
Twitter.
### |
