Rare Giraffe Born At LEO Zoological Conservation Center
Rare Endangered Giraffe Born in Connecticut
There’s a brand new baby at the LEO Zoological Conservation Center in Greenwich, Connecticut. A rare endangered species of giraffe was born to one of the female giraffes at the zoo, reports FOX News.
The newly born calf is already six-feet tall and is the first such subspecies endangered giraffe to be born at the Center.
The Center already has a collection of five giraffes, two of whom are expecting. The new calf, which is as yet unnamed, may grow from its current six-feet height at birth to reaching a towering height of 18 feet tall.
Staff members report that the new arrival is very healthy and already exhibiting plenty of curiosity, allowing humans to approach it without any signs of fear or rejection.
The Rothschild giraffe, found in Africa, is classified as endangered on IUCN Red List and there are fewer than 670 left in the wild.
Zoo staff write:
In the early morning hours on March 22nd at LEO Zoological Conservation Center, Petal, a 6 year old endangered Rothschild giraffe, began the early stages of labor. At 9.04am, after a relatively short labor, she gave birth to a healthy, female calf. Petal has bonded extremely well, was very attentive, and began nurturing her calf right away. Within 30 minutes of the birth, the calf was standing and nursing. Our new arrival was greeted by LEOZCC’s herd of giraffe who were eagerly watching the birth.
The latest giraffe is among a species known as Rothchild Giraffes first discovered in the early 20th century by a British zoologist bearing the same name who was exploring East Africa.
Source:
Endangered giraffe gives birth at Connecticut conservation center
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/03/24/rare-giraffe-listed-as-endangered-gives-birth-to-curious-calf-at-conn/
