The Stork Visits the Oakland Zoo
2/14/2006
The Zoo welcomes new baby giraffe born February 6, 2006
OAKLAND, CA. – The Oakland Zoo is offering the press “sneak peek” of the new male giraffe calf born on Monday, February 6, 2006. The press is invited to meet at the giraffe exhibit for a behind-the-scenes with mother and calf, on Friday, February 17th, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Please join us in welcoming our newest addition!
The baby giraffe was born at 7:59 a.m. on Monday, February 6th. Zoo Keepers had been keeping a close eye on mom, Tiki, who had been showing signs of the impending birth. When her water broke at 7:37 a.m., the keepers knew they were just minutes away from meeting the newest addition to the Zoo.
The still unnamed calf stands six feet tall and weighs 150 pounds. The gestation for a giraffe is approximately 16 months. Newborn giraffe stand and start nursing very shortly after birth – and are soon running along side their mom. Within just a few years he will reach the height of his 16’ tall parents.
The new calf will spending the next few weeks bonding with his mother and getting used to his surroundings before going out on exhibit.
The Oakland Zoo hopes to have a name for the calf soon, and is considering offering naming rights to a donor or holding a naming contest.
The award-winning Oakland Zoo is home to over 440 native and exotic animals. Nestled in the Oakland Hills, in 525 acre Knowland Park, the Zoo is located at 9777 Golf Links Road, off Highway 580. For more information please call (510) 632-9525 ext. 171, or visit our web site at www.oaklandzoo.org.
