Zoo's giraffe mum Kay finally makes it a girl
Auckland zookeepers arrived at work yesterday morning to a new addition to the family - a giraffe calf, the first female giraffe born at the zoo in 15 years.
Experienced mum Kay and the leggy newcomer have undergone vet checks and are in good health.
The new arrival was on its feet soon after birth. Weighing in at approximately 55kgs and standing 1.8m (6ft), the newborn calf appears confident and relaxed.
She is the third offspring of 21-year-old Kay and nine-year-old dad Zabulu, and a competition is underway to name her.
"It was wonderful to come into work this morning and see two healthy female giraffe - one mum and one baby. We knew the birth was imminent and had been monitoring Kay carefully.
"As with all her other deliveries, she took it all in her stride. She is a great mum, bonding really well with her calf, and doing all the right things," says Auckland Zoo Pridelands team leader, Michael Batty.
The birth of a female calf is significant in the Australasian region, as she provides valuable genetic stock for future breeding. "After Kay's five previous pregnancies, all resulting in males, we were hoping she would produce a female," says Mr Batty.
Mum and daughter will gradually be integrated with other giraffe, zebra and ostrich in the giraffe paddock, and visitors can expect to see them out and about strutting their stuff sometime within the next few weeks.
The zoo is calling on members of the public to help name the new female giraffe, with the winner getting a behind-the-scenes tour of Pridelands, including the chance to meet the giraffe they named.
How to enter the naming competition:
Email aucklandzoo@aucklandcity.govt.nz by Friday 10 August with your suggested name with subject line 'Zoo giraffe naming competition'
e your the meaning or translation of your suggested name - a name of cultural significance is recommended
include contact name, address and phone number
the winning name will be selected on 13 August and the winner will be notified by phone, with details of the name posted on www.aucklandzoo.co.nz
the prize of a behind the scenes tour is for four people and does not include transport.
Did you know?
a newborn giraffe stands1.8m tall - about the same size as an All Black lock forward. It needs to be this tall to reach its mother's milk
it is thought that the dark colour of their tongues protects them from getting sunburned while reaching for leaves on trees. They also have thick, sticky saliva that coats any thorns they might swallow
giraffe have the same number of vertebrae in their necks as humans: seven. Each one is just much bigger.
Experienced mum Kay and the leggy newcomer have undergone vet checks and are in good health.
The new arrival was on its feet soon after birth. Weighing in at approximately 55kgs and standing 1.8m (6ft), the newborn calf appears confident and relaxed.
She is the third offspring of 21-year-old Kay and nine-year-old dad Zabulu, and a competition is underway to name her.
"It was wonderful to come into work this morning and see two healthy female giraffe - one mum and one baby. We knew the birth was imminent and had been monitoring Kay carefully.
"As with all her other deliveries, she took it all in her stride. She is a great mum, bonding really well with her calf, and doing all the right things," says Auckland Zoo Pridelands team leader, Michael Batty.
The birth of a female calf is significant in the Australasian region, as she provides valuable genetic stock for future breeding. "After Kay's five previous pregnancies, all resulting in males, we were hoping she would produce a female," says Mr Batty.
Mum and daughter will gradually be integrated with other giraffe, zebra and ostrich in the giraffe paddock, and visitors can expect to see them out and about strutting their stuff sometime within the next few weeks.
The zoo is calling on members of the public to help name the new female giraffe, with the winner getting a behind-the-scenes tour of Pridelands, including the chance to meet the giraffe they named.
How to enter the naming competition:
Email aucklandzoo@aucklandcity.govt.nz by Friday 10 August with your suggested name with subject line 'Zoo giraffe naming competition'
e your the meaning or translation of your suggested name - a name of cultural significance is recommended
include contact name, address and phone number
the winning name will be selected on 13 August and the winner will be notified by phone, with details of the name posted on www.aucklandzoo.co.nz
the prize of a behind the scenes tour is for four people and does not include transport.
Did you know?
a newborn giraffe stands1.8m tall - about the same size as an All Black lock forward. It needs to be this tall to reach its mother's milk
it is thought that the dark colour of their tongues protects them from getting sunburned while reaching for leaves on trees. They also have thick, sticky saliva that coats any thorns they might swallow
giraffe have the same number of vertebrae in their necks as humans: seven. Each one is just much bigger.