‘Loving’ mama giraffe gives birth at California zoo. Watch her ‘amazing little’ baby
An “amazing little” newborn giraffe was welcomed by a California zoo, officials said.
The baby girl named Kendi, which means “loved one” in Swahili, was born Oct. 19 at the Oakland Zoo, officials said in a post to its Facebook.
This birth comes after a “very long pregnancy” as giraffes carry their babies for 14 to 16 months, the zoo said in an Oct. 20 news release.
The “new baby” joined “the herd” weighing in at 150 pounds and stands 6 1/2 feet tall, zoo officials said.
The first-time mama Kijiji has shown her “loving and protective nature by guiding her baby into the giraffe barn,” the zoo said.
Kijiji, described as curious and sassy, was brought to the Oakland Zoo from Kansas’s Lee Richardson Zoo as a way to “help ensure the sustainability of a healthy” and “genetically diverse” species population throughout U.S. zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, officials said.
“We’re so excited to have a new baby join the herd. With the expertise of our staff, we’re prepared to assist Kijiji as she enters this stage in life as a new mother,” Amy Phelps, assistant zoological manager at Oakland Zoo, said in the release.
The zoo said giraffes are classified as critically endangered as they experience habitat loss and are victims in illegal wildlife trade. They’re usually captured and sold for their bones, hair and tails, according to the zoo.
The daughter and mama duo will “serve as ambassadors” as they educate people who go to the zoo, officials said.
Kendi hasn’t made a public appearance yet and will remain in a separate area with her mama for the next two weeks to ensure the two “bond peacefully,” officials said.
Oakland is about 10 miles northeast of San Francisco.
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