It’s a boy! Second giraffe calf born at Living Desert in a month
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert welcomed its second giraffe calf in a month.
This new calf was born on February 26 to Shellie (mom) and Kelley (dad).
According to the zoo, at birth, the male calf weighed 160 pounds and stood tall at 6 feet, 1 inch. During the past week, the mom and calf have been bonding beautifully behind the scenes, receiving excellent care from the Living Desert's dedicated animal care team.
On Tuesday, he took his first steps out onto the Giraffe Savanna where he joined 10 of his herdmates, including his big sister Cole.
"The next time you’re at The Living Desert and you see two baby giraffe, see if you can 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘵 the difference between them (hint: the baby boy has a lighter colored coat)!" writes the Living Desert on social media.
The Living Desert welcomed a female giraffe calf on February 2.
The calf also born to Vicki Lou and Kelley recently joined the herd of giraffes in the zoo's habitat. Her name has yet to be revealed.
The zoo's herd of giraffes now has its 12th member.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists giraffes as vulnerable. Populations have declined up to 40% over the last 30 years. With roughly 100,000 remaining, zoo officials say conservation is crucial.
Zoo officials said giraffes are threatened by habitat loss, civil unrest, poaching, and ecological changes
The Living Desert has long-standing partnerships with the Black Mambas Anti-Poaching Unit and their education partner project, the Bush Babies Environmental Program as well as the Wild Nature Institute to protect giraffes, preserve their natural habitats, and increase research and conservation education.
For more on the Living Desert, visit: www.livingdesert.org
