Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s newest giraffe is a baby girl
Update: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo confirmed Sunday that giraffe Msitu’s new baby is a girl. Following zoo tradition, she will be named only after she’s 30 days old.
The calf was born Saturday, July 6 at 1:20 p.m. She took her first steps only 35 minutes later at 1:55 p.m., which zoo officials say indicates that she is strong and healthy. She is over six feet tall.
CMZ says that they will keep the giraffe barn open to quiet, managed visitor groups so long as the calf and mother remain calm and healthy.
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Msitu, a 10-year-old giraffe at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, went into labor Saturday around 11:30 a.m. Take a look at the zoo’s live birth cam below!
The zoo also plans to live stream the birth on Facebook as long as the labor continues to progress smoothly.
“Giraffe calves can be fragile, so we try to encourage people to be realistic about the risks while they enjoy the excitement of the hope we know giraffe calves bring to so many,” said Jason Bredahl, African Rift Valley animal care manager. “We’re optimistic that advances in medicine, like the availability of giraffe plasma and stem cell treatments, will help us navigate any medical needs the calf may have.”
Giraffe gestation periods typically range from 14 to 15 months. Msitu passed her 15-month mark on July 4th, so she’s the slightest bit behind schedule. Msitu’s calf — her third — would bring the zoo’s giraffe herd up to 16.
