Baby Giraffe Born At Zoo Miami: First Photos

MIAMI, FL — Zoo Miami welcomed a baby male giraffe into the world on Dec. 16 just in time for the holidays.

The unnamed newborn already stands 5 feet tall and weighs 150 pounds, the zoo shared in a Facebook post.

He was born to an 8-year-old female giraffe, Zuri. This is her third calf and the 59th giraffe born at Zoo Miami.

The baby giraffe made his exhibit debut at the zoo on Monday, and he was welcomed by the herd.

“The calf seemed to be unfazed by the others in the herd as they slowly approached him to get a closer look and an occasional lick from their nearly 20-inch-long tongues,” Zoo Miami wrote. “He spent the morning getting better acquainted with the herd while exploring the habitat from one end to the other. The neonatal exam that was performed on Saturday indicated that the calf is strong and healthy.”

If things continue going well, the zoo expects the calf and its mother to join the herd daily.

Giraffe pregnancies last about 15 months. And when it’s time to give birth, the mother rarely lies down. This means the newborn falls 4 to 6 feet to the floor at the time it’s born, the zoo shared.

In recent years, there’s been “significant reductions” in giraffe populations in the wild, so their status is considered “vulnerable” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, the zoo added.