Giraffe Calf Born At Maryland Zoo Receives Plasma Transfusion

BALTIMORE, MD — A giraffe calf who is less than a week old has just started bottle-feeding, after receiving a plasma transfusion from the Cleveland Zoo.

The 6-foot-tall, 143-pound reticulated giraffe was born at 5:49 a.m. on Thursday, June 15.

“The first 48 hours after birth is the critical time for giraffe calves to get the antibodies from mother’s milk, or in our case, the colostrum supplement,” Mammal Collection and Conservation Manager Erin Cantwell said. Although the baby tried to nurse, blood work showed he was not receiving the necessary antibodies to fight infection.

"After the 48-hour window, the only other option for antibody transfer is a plasma transfusion from the blood of an adult giraffe," Cantwell said. "So, we decided to give another boost to his immune system with an intravenous transfusion of giraffe plasma, which was generously donated by the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.”

Maryland Zoo hospital keeper Kaitie Kessler drove to West Virginia on Friday night to meet personnel from the Columbus Zoo who provided the plasma, which she drove on ice back to Baltimore.

"On Saturday, our staff provided the calf the warmed plasma to help improve his immune system and strength," Cantwell said. "We are so grateful to the team at the Columbus Zoo for providing us with this potentially life-saving plasma."

Since the calf is not nursing, the Maryland Zoo team on Monday decided to begin bottle feeding him.

“Normally, a calf will nurse on mother’s milk for approximately six months. Because this calf isn’t nursing, we made the decision to start to bottle feed him yesterday," Cantwell said in a statement on Tuesday. "Giraffe calves are notoriously difficult to bottle-feed, and it could take a week to get him onto the bottle, according to other colleagues who have had to hand feed giraffe calves. We will also continue to supplement him with formula while he learns to bottle feed, so he will be getting the nutrition he needs."

The mother — 7-year-old Kesi — and calf are staying in a part of the Giraffe House that is closed to the public. The other giraffes will in the future be introduced to the new calf.

"We remain optimistic that his health will improve; however, we are taking his condition seriously,” Cantwell said. “We really appreciate the good thoughts and well wishes from the public, as well as our zoo and aquarium colleagues, as we work to ensure that this little guy grows up to be a big, strong giraffe.”

The male giraffe calf is the second born this year at the zoo in Baltimore, which welcomed baby Willow on Feb. 6. She was the first giraffe calf to be born there since 1997.

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Photo courtesy of the Maryland Zoo.