Giraffe Born at The Living Desert

Photos courtesy of the Living Desert

By City News Service

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens has a new resident -- a baby giraffe that will be on exhibit beginning this weekend.

The as-yet unnamed calf, standing 5-feet-7 and weighing nearly 151 pounds, was born Friday to “Tuli,” after a 15-month gestation.

“It’s always an exciting day when we welcome a new friend to the world here at The Living Desert,” said Allen Monroe, the zoo’s president and CEO. “Helping build the population of endangered species is an important and fulfilling part of our mission.”

Fewer than 80,000 giraffes exist in the wild, zoo officials said.

The newborn is expected to nurse from his mother for nine to 12 months, and begin eating foliage in about four months.

With the new addition, the zoo is now home to four male and two female giraffes.