Visitors flock to see newborn giraffe at L.A. Zoo

Record ID: 1671030

  • Title: Visitors flock to see newborn giraffe at L.A. Zoo
  • Date: 28th April 2022
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (APRIL 28, 2022) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF GIRAFFE CALF WITH HERD SOUNDBITE (English) MIKE BONA, GIRAFFE KEEPER AT LOS ANGELES ZOO SAYING: “He was born on April 8th and he was 172 pounds and six feet seven inches tall. So one of the tallest calves we have ever had here born at the zoo. They average about 150 pounds and six feet when they're born.” VARIOUS OF GIRAFFE CALF WITH HERD SOUNDBITE (English) MIKE BONA, GIRAFFE KEEPER AT LOS ANGELES ZOO SAYING: “She did end up going into labor on exhibit. So some lucky guests that day got to see her. But then we brought her into the barn where she got a nice, quiet, comfortable place to give birth.” MOTHER WITH CALF VARIOUS OF GIRAFFE KEEPER MIKE BONA AT ENCLOSURE SOUNDBITE (English) MIKE BONA, GIRAFFE KEEPER AT LOS ANGELES ZOO SAYING: “He's very curious about the zookeepers, myself and our interaction with his mom and the other giraffes. So he's kind of a little shy right now, but hopefully as he gets older, he'll warm up to us as well like his parents are.” VARIOUS OF GIRAFFE CALF WITH HERD VARIOUS OF GIRAFFE CALF WITH MOTHER VISITORS TAKING PHOTOS SOUNDBITE (English) NANCY KUBOTA, VISITOR SAYING: “I was surprised. And, you know, it's delightful. Who doesn't want to have a new baby, right? Yes. No, it's delightful.” VISITOR NANCY KUBOTA WITH FRIEND WATCHING GIRAFFES MOTHER GROOMING CALF SOUNDBITE (English) VISITORS ELLIE STINSON (FOUR YEARS OLD) AND HER MOTHER TRACIE STINSON SAYING: “Who else do you think is in the giraffe’s family?” “A papa right there, 'cos he's tall.” “Aha, who else?” “A mama right there and I guess that one is the baby.” MOTHER GROOMING CALF VARIOUS OF CALF AND CROWD SOUNDBITE (English) VISITORS BEATRICE MELBLY (THREE YEARS OLD) HER MOTHER NIKKI SPIES SAYING: “How does a baby drop even.. how does it come out of its mom?” “She just… she comes out of her, out of her belly, and then she stands up right away. You took a long time to stand up - that baby is ready to run.” “When I was a baby, I couldn't even run.” CALF WITH HERD VARIOUS OF VISITORS TAKING PHOTOS SOUNDBITE (English) JENNY CUNNINGHAM, VISITOR, SAYING: “I didn't know he'd be out today, so I saw he was born a few weeks ago, but we were just planning on coming today, so it's a nice surprise. He's very cute.” GIRAFFE CALF LOS ANGELES ZOO ENTRANCE
  • Embargoed: 12th May 2022 23:08
  • Keywords: ANIMALS CALF GIRAFFE LOS ANGELES ZOO
  • Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
  • City: Los Angeles, California, USA
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Environment,Nature/Wildlife,United States
  • Reuters ID: LVA001471228042022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Los Angeles Zoo has a newborn giraffe - and he’s proving a big hit with visitors.
    The week-old Masai calf was unveiled to the public on Thursday (April 29).
    “He's very curious about the zookeepers, myself and our interaction with his mom and the other giraffes. So he's kind of a little shy right now, but hopefully as he gets older, he'll warm up to us as well like his parents are," said L.A. Zoo Giraffe Keeper, Mike Bona.
    The calf was born on April 8 to 10-year old parents Zainabu and Phillip who already share one other youngster together.
    “She did end up going into labor on exhibit. So some lucky guests that day got to see her. But then we brought her into the barn where she got a nice, quiet, comfortable place to give birth”, Bona said.
    The baby - still unnamed - weighed 172 pounds (78 kg) at birth and clocked in at 6ft 7in (2 meters) tall, setting a record as the largest calf to be born in the zoo’s history. He’s Zainabu’s fourth offspring and Phillip’s sixth.
    “It's delightful. Who doesn't want to have a new baby," said visitor Nancy Kubota who lives nearby and visits the zoo most days.
    Zainabu carried the calf for 15 months before going into labor, which lasted around three hours. She will be ready to reproduce again in around three to six months, her keepers said.
    When fully grown, the new calf could reach up to 17 feet (5.1 meters) in height and weigh as much as 2,700 pounds (1,225 kg). But before that, he’s likely to be moved from this family to start his own:
    (Production: Sandra Stojanovic, Phil Lavelle)
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