(KRON) — The Oakland Zoo welcomed a brand new resident this week. The zoo’s giraffe herd is celebrating the arrival of a brand new child giraffe that was given start to Thursday. The giraffe calf is the primary giraffe born on the zoo in 11 years, in accordance with zoo officers.
After a prolonged being pregnant — giraffes have a gestation interval of 14-16 months — the calf’s mom Kijiji gave start within the giraffe habitat. The brand new calf, a feminine that zoo officers have named Kendi, weighed 150 kilos and is already 6 foot, 5 inches tall.
“Kendi” means “beloved one” in Swahili, in what the zoo says is an homage to the language spoken in Kenya, the place giraffes dwell within the wild.
Kendi’s mom Kijiji has reportedly already proven her protecting, motherly facet by guiding the calf into the giraffe barn, zoo officers mentioned. Zoo keepers have arrange a separate space within the barn for the calf and mom to bond.
Kendi is already on her ft, standing and strolling across the enclosure and nursing from its mom. Zoo officers say the calf will stay behind the scenes with mother for a few weeks so the 2 can develop their relationship.
“We’re so excited to have a brand new child be a part of the herd. With the experience of our workers, we’re ready to help Kijiji as she enters this stage in life as a brand new mom,” says Amy Phelps, Assistant Zoological Supervisor at Oakland Zoo.
New mother Kijiji arrived in 2020 from Lee Richardson Zoo on a suggestion from the Affiliation of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan. She is “curious, clever, and sassy,” in accordance with her keepers.
As soon as Kendi has made her public debut on the zoo, there are plans to have a reside stream for visitors and zoo followers to tune in and comply with her journey.
