BUFFALO ZOO WELCOMES A BABY GIRAFFE!

On Wednesday, December 22, 2010, the Buffalo Zoo was pleased to host members of the media to photograph the latest addition to its animal family—a baby reticulated giraffe!

The male calf was born on Saturday, December 11, 2010 to mother, Agnes, and father, Cain. Agnes, who was born at the Buffalo Zoo in 1994, is taking good care of her little one. This is Agnes’ third calf. Female, Jumoke, was born in 1998 and now resides at the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, Kansas, and male, Abu, was born in 2005 and now lives at Zoo Atlanta.

To ensure proper bonding between mother and calf, the inside doors to the Giraffe House are locked. However, visitors may view Agnes and her calf, as well as the other members of their herd, Jennie and A.J., through the glass doors of the Giraffe House vestibule.

Found in Africa, south of the Sahara Desert, giraffes can reach a height of approximately 14 to 18 feet, making them the tallest living mammals in the world. While giraffes’ necks are greatly elongated, they consist of seven vertebrae, just like humans.

Though giraffes are not endangered, they are listed as “near threatened” due to habitat loss and poaching.