Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines is expecting a giraffe baby boom this summer. Reticulated giraffes Skye and Zola are both expected to give birth later this summer, zoo officials announced on Thursday.
Giraffe Conservation
The pregnancies are significant because reticulated giraffes are considered endangered in the wild. Officials called it an “exciting milestone” for the zoo, which participates in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan, a cooperative conservation breeding program designed to help maintain healthy and genetically diverse giraffe populations in accredited zoos.
“These pregnancies are incredibly exciting for our team and our guests,” Blank Park Zoo President & CEO Anne Shimerdla said in a news release. “Every giraffe birth represents an opportunity to inspire people to care about a species facing significant challenges in the wild.”
Jakobi the giraffe, who has been part of the zoo’s herd for 20 years, is the father to both calves. He has sired five calves at Blank Park Zoo, including Raza with Skye in 2021 and Bakari with Zola in 2022.
Giraffe gestation periods are approximately 13-15 months (400-465 days). Calves are normally about 6 feet tall and 100-150 pounds at birth and can stand and walk within hours.
Those interested in following the last days of Skye and Zola’s pregnancies can visit the zoo — it’s open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day — and follow its social media accounts.
World Giraffe Day
Blank Park Zoo will celebrate the pregnancies — and all things giraffe — during World Giraffe Day on Sunday, June 21, as part of its monthly Discover the Wild Days event. It’s no coincidence that World Giraffe Day is held on the longest day of the year, recognizing the world’s tallest land animal.
According to a news release, the family-friendly celebration will feature giraffe-themed activities, educational experiences, animal encounters and video game-inspired fun throughout property, while highlighting the importance of giraffe conservation and the efforts underway to protect giraffes for future generations.
Original reporting: KCCI Des Moines — read the source article.
