IT'S A BOY!! NC ZOO WELCOMES BABY GIRAFFE

The North Carolina Zoo announced a soaring addition to its family in May. The Zoo’s 13-yearold giraffe Leia gave birth to a calf on Saturday, May 20.

The calf was born to parents Leia (cow and firsttime mom), born in 2009 at Zoo Miami and arrived at the Zoo in 2014, and Jack (bull), born in 2008 at Dickerson Park Zoo and arrived at the Zoo in 2009. The Zoo has had 12 previous giraffe births, making this one lucky number 13.

The calf was about six feet tall and 145 pounds when born. He is expected to grow to 10-12 feet by his first birthday and reach full height at four years old.

Mom and calf rejoined the herd—or tower (group of giraffes) on habitat and in public view earlier this summer. The public is encouraged to tune in to the Zoo's social media channels for photos, updates, and information about how the calf is doing.

The Zoo announced the name chosen for the baby giraffe on World Giraffe Day, June 21st after the public was invited to vote in an online poll from a list of names provided by the Zoo’s giraffe keepers. The public naming poll had a soaring response, with more than 100,000 votes!

The winning name was “Fenn,” after the founders of the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, Julian and Stephanie Fennessy. World Giraffe Day is celebrated every year on June 21.

The other names offered were:

• Nelson: After Nelson Mandela.

• Mosi: African name used for "firstborn son."

• Tamu: Swahili for "sweet"

• Jackson: Dad is named Jack, "Son of Jack."

• Bongani: This Zulu name means "grateful, thankful."

In a combined statement from the Zoo’s Giraffe Zookeepers Kristi Myers, Jason Balder, Mary Wilson, and Kelly Davis: “Leia and Fenn are doing amazingly well. Our team could not be prouder of how attentive

Leia has been with her firstborn.”

They continued: “This new arrival brings the team lots of happiness and excitement to have some young, spunky energy around. The rest of the giraffe tower - Jack, Turbo and Amelia - are all very curious of the newbie and are bopping noses whenever they can.”

North Carolina Zoo Director, Pat Simmons, said “The giraffes at the North Carolina Zoo serve as ambassadors for their wild cousins, giving our guests the opportunity to learn about these majestic creatures and the conservation challenges they face. The Zoo’s direct engagement with conservation in Africa means that every Zoo visitor is helping to ensure the future of this and other species.”

Their pairing resulted from a recommendation by the Species Survival Plan of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) which maintains the genetic diversity of species that are in human care.

Giraffe calves are typically five to six feet tall and 150 to 200 pounds when born. This calf appears to be within those healthy parameters. Giraffes are pregnant for a long 14 to 15 months.

Giraffes are the tallest land animals. Female giraffes are up to 14 feet tall, weigh up to 1,500 pounds, and are pregnant for 14 to 15 months. Meanwhile, males are up to 18 feet tall and can weigh 3,000 pounds. At this height, a giraffe can look into a second-story window. Male and female giraffes can live to about 25 years in the wild and even longer under human care.

Fun facts: No two giraffes have the same coat pattern, like human fingerprints. And a group of giraffes is called a “tower.”

Giraffes are native to sub-Saharan Africa and are very social animals, traveling in large towers (herds) of all ages and sexes.

They are listed as a "Vulnerable" species according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and approximately 68,000 are found in the wild, with numbers decreasing because of habitat loss, poaching (illegal hunting), and disease threatening their distribution throughout Africa.

The North Carolina Zoo is actively involved in giraffe conservation and research in Tanzania. You can read more about our staff working to save giraffes in the wild on the Zoo’s Blog.

The Zoo’s giraffe tower now numbers five – males Jack, Turbo, and Fenn, and females Leia and Amelia.

Heads up! On the Giraffe Deck in the Africa Region, you'll be able to get eye-to-eye with these longlegged giants, an experience you'll never forget. The deck has a beautiful treetop view looking downward on the habitat, so it's a great place for group photos and for viewing the herd of giraffes. The Acacia Station Giraffe Deck is listed as "View 4" on the Park Map. The giraffes may also be visible from three other free viewing areas labeled as View 1, 2 and 3. Views 1 and 2 provide an upward view of the habitat and are closest to the Africa Entrance.

• Please note: When the ground is wet, the giraffes will not be in their habitat for their safety. Giraffes also move about their habitat and may not be near the Acacia Station Giraffe Deck. Tickets can be purchased at the Giraffe Deck only.

• Children under 12 must be accompanied onto the deck by a ticketed/paying adult

• Experience is weather and animal dependent

For the health and safety of you, the zoo staff and the giraffes, the following measures are in place:

• Hand sanitizer will be available for guests prior to the deck. It will be required that all participants sanitize their hands prior to feeding the giraffe.

• Hand sanitizer is available to guests when exiting the experience as well.

• No strollers or wagons are permitted onto the deck, a stroller parking area is available near the entrance.

• Service animals are not permitted onto the deck. Service animals can be left with another member of your party prior to the deck while you participate in the feeding experience. Zoo staff cannot take responsibility for the animal.

If you want to see Fenn, Leia and the rest of the tower, make plans to visit the North Carolina Zoo this summer!