BATON ROUGE, La.—BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo is pleased to announce the birth of a male reticulated giraffe on Thursday, December 26, 2019. The calf was born to a 6-year-old, first-time mother, Rosie, and a 13-year-old father, Rowan. To this point, the calf appears to be progressing as expected. This is the 20th giraffe born at the Baton Rouge Zoo and is the first giraffe successfully born here since 2001.
The Zoo welcomes media for photo and video opportunities today, December 28, 2019 between 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. Please enter through the administrative area near the back of the Zoo (see map attached). For any questions, contact Robyn Lott at rlott@brzoo.org or 225-485-9789.
A giraffe’s gestation period is typically between 14 to 17 months in duration & it is typical for a newborn giraffe to weigh 100lbs – 150lbs and stand between 5ft and 6ft tall at birth. Median life expectancy for a
male giraffe in human care in the United States is 13.4 years.
Giraffes live in eastern, central and southern portions of Africa. They range across savannah, grasslands, and open woods in search of trees to feed upon. As a species, the reticulated giraffe is considered “Endangered” in the wild. This is primarily due to human poaching and encroachment on natural habitats.
Unfortunately, the mortality rate for giraffes ages 6 months and under is nearly 50%. “Our keeper, curator & veterinary staff are incredibly skilled and are monitoring the mother and calf closely. This expert care and supervision will hopefully lead to good outcomes. With a first-time mother, the progress over the coming few days & weeks will be crucial, said Phil Frost, Zoo Director.
About BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo is a place where people connect with animals, including tigers, giraffes, rhinos and alligators. The world-class Realm of the Tiger, Flamingo Cove, Giants of the Islands, Safari Playground, L'aquarium de Louisiane, and KidsZoo exhibits offer fun and education for all ages.