2 Male Giraffe Calves Mix With Herd For First Time At Safari Park

ESCONDIDO, CA – Two male giraffe calves, born earlier this year, enthusiastically raced about and kicked up their heels enjoying their first mix-and-mingle interaction with the herd on Tuesday in their field exhibit at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido.

Both calves spent their early months in a protected enclosure, or boma, where they were bottle-fed three times a day and received specialized care, according to zoo officials.

“We determined we needed to hand-rear them because of some medical issues,” said Kimberly Millspaugh, senior keeper.

The first giraffe calf, born Jan. 27 and the offspring of sire, Habari, and mom, Acacia, had difficulty nursing from his mother, due to inflammation in his nasal cavity and throat, the animal-care team said. After a field assessment, the veterinary experts relocated him to the Safari Park’s Paul Harter Veterinary Medical Center, where the decision was made to hand-rear and bottle-feed the little fellow.

The younger calf, a Masai giraffe born Feb. 22, is the offspring of mom, Gasira, and sire, Robert.

This week’s introduction into the herd is part of the Safari Park team’s plan to give the two calves opportunities to develop proper social skills, so they can successfully integrate into a giraffe community, officials said, adding that the pair’s first tentative steps out of the boma were quickly followed by an eager exploration of their new mixed-species habitat.

“Today, we let them out of the boma – and they got to meet the giraffe herd, up close and personal,” Millspaugh said Tuesday. “They had a great time running around.”

Visitors to Summer Safari at the Park may see the calves from the Africa Tram Safari periodically, as they acclimate to their new habitat. Summer Safari offers special entertainment, food and animal encounters all season long. See more on park hours and events here.

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