Como Zoo's new addition debuted for visitors and staff on Sunday: A week-old baby giraffe.
"It took over an hour of coaxing from her mother, Clover, but the baby giraffe born at Como Zoo one week ago today stepped out from her bedroom and into the outdoor yard for the first time," according to Matt Reinartz, Como Zoo marketing and public relations manager. "With her mother always near, the baby giraffe is busy running and exploring all corners of her home.
Born on Sept. 1 at 5 foot 8 inches and 130 pounds, the baby giraffe has already grown a few inches and pounds, Reinartz said. He added she is the fifth calf born to Clover, and the 17th giraffe birth at Como in the last 20 years.
Como’s current herd consists of Clover, Daisy, Skeeter (father) and the yet-to-be-named female.
Facts about giraffes
Reinartz said, "The giraffe is the tallest of all land-living animal species. They can be as tall as 18 feet tall and have a prehensile (used for grasping) tongue as long as 18 inches. During the first two years of a giraffe’s life, it doubles it height and can be over 12-feet tall.
Giraffe gestation lasts between 14 and 15 months, after which a single calf is born. Like human fingerprints, the markings or spots of a giraffe’s coat are unique to each individual. Reticulated giraffes are native to the dry savannahs and open woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa."
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