Baby giraffe welcomed at the Living Desert
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens welcomed a new giraffe to the herd.
In the early morning of March 20, a female giraffe calf was born to mother, Dadisi, and father Hesabu. The yet-to-be-named calf was born at a weight of 49.6 pounds (68kg) and stands 6 feet 1 inch tall.
“She is tall, healthy and absolutely adorable,” said Dr. Andrea Goodnight, head veterinarian at the Living Desert.
Living Desert officials said the calf will double her size in the first year of her life. She will nurse for nine to 12 months, and begin eating foliage around two months old.
Officials said the calf is expected to make her public debut next week. The Living Desert is located at 47900 Portola Avenue in Palm Desert. Giraffe feedings are done daily from 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at $7 per person or $5 for members.
“We are thrilled to share the news of this new addition. Mother and calf are doing very well and are currently bonding behind-the-scenes,” said Allen Monroe, President/CEO of The Living Desert. “Guests will have the opportunity to see mother and calf in the near future and I know they will be delighted when they see the pair.”
The 18-year-old Dadisi, who has lived at the Living Desert since 2002, has given birth to eight calves. This is the 10h calf Hesabu fathered before he passed away in December 2018 after a rapid decline in health.
The calf joins the herd of nine giraffes, five males, and four females.
Giraffe populations have declined 40% over the last 30 years due to things like habitat loss, fragmentation, civil unrest, and ecological changes. There are currently fewer than 98,000 giraffes in the wild.
