For the second time in almost as many months, a baby reticulated giraffe was born at the Memphis Zoo.

Photo Credit: Karen Pulfer Focht

Photo Credit: Karen Pulfer Focht

For the second time in almost as many months, a baby reticulated giraffe was born at the Memphis Zoo.

Shortly after 7 a.m., “Sarabi,” a 13-year-old reticulated giraffe gave
birth to the new female calf while she was standing in the Giraffe
night house. Shortly after being born, the still to be named baby began
to walk and nurse. That step made
zookeeper Richard Meek very happy.

“Giraffes usually stand within an hour of being born,” said Meek. “This
one stood and started nursing very quickly, so we were very pleased.”

This baby is the third born at the Memphis Zoo in less than 2 years.
Female “Angela Kate,” was born November 5, 2006, and male “Kofi” was
born earlier this year, on August 29. All three were fathered by
“Kenya,” who also resides at the Memphis Zoo.

Kofi has already met the new calf, and the two young giraffes are
getting along very well. They’ll both be out in their exhibit for
visitors to see starting Saturday morning. The Memphis Zoo now has six
reticulated giraffes.

The baby calf still hasn’t been named, though!  On Monday, October
20, visitors will be able to go to memphiszoo.org and vote on a name
for the newest member of the Zoo’s giraffe herd.