Utah’s Hogle Zoo welcomes newborn giraffe calf
The zoo announced its resident giraffes, Stephanie and Ja, gave birth to their newborn calf just before 9 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7. The male calf weighed 169 pounds and stood at 6 feet 2 inches tall.
Hogle Zoo’s care team said the newborn calf, which has yet to be officially named, is “strong, brave, curious, and exploring new spaces.”
The newborn is Stephanie’s second calf, following the birth of Reyna in 2022 and Ja’s first calf since transferring from the Memphis Zoo on a breeding recommendation in 2022.
Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait a little bit longer before getting a glimpse of the calf. The Hogle Zoo said Stephanie and her calf still need to bond and adjust in a quiet, comfortable environment.
“The herd stays indoors during cooler months when temperatures are below 50 degrees, enjoying the African Savanna barn,” the Hogle Zoo said in a statement. “As temperatures allow, the herd may have access to their winter yard behind the Eccles Express Train Station.”
Zoo officials said the birth of the calf marked an important step in protecting the vulnerable species. Giraffes are typically found in Africa’s savannas, grasslands, and open woodlands. The species has been threatened by habitat loss, human population growth, and poaching.
- The Toledo Zoo welcomed a 130-pound baby boy giraffe named Eugene, who is thriving alongside his mother Lily and has been introduced to the rest of the herd.
The Toledo Zoo just got a whole lot cuter! On January 17, giraffe parents Lily and Rocket welcomed a 130-pound baby boy named Eugene. The baby reticulated giraffe and his mom were both thriving after the birth, and it wasn’t long before mom and son could be reunited with the rest of the herd.
Only a few days later, Eugene met herd members Franklin, Charlotte, Michelle, Ellie, and Rae: the females and the baby! The only thing cuter than Eugene learning about life is watching this baby being fawned over by his aunties. It was love at first sight!
Eugene looked so tall in the very first clip, but then I noticed his mom and aunties behind him! Still, it’s impressive to see how graceful he is on such long, spindly legs. Lily may be a first-time mom, but she’s done a great job caring for her baby so far.
“I wonder if they have that newborn baby smell like human babies,” @shirley.brock8 commented. Maybe it’s something only giraffes can detect! Whatever the case may be, baby giraffes like Eugene don’t need an alluring scent or a tiny size to be absolutely adorable.
The only thing sweeter than watching the giraffe calf meet new friends is getting a close-up view of his ‘hairdo.’ Commenters can’t get enough of it! @Etesharodgers wrote, “His widdle baby ossicones looking like a toupee! I cannot!”
Ossicones are the tall, bony bumps on giraffes’ heads. Adult giraffes use them when ‘necking’ competitors for dominance, and some even have a second pair of ossicones at the base of their neck. Fortunately for mother giraffes, these bony structures don’t grow or harden until after a giraffe calf is born.
Eugene is as cute as can be with or without his ossicones, but it’s easy to see why his hairdo is helping him go viral. His mom loves him, his herd loves him, and now so do his new fans!