Tuesday, 29 August 2008
IT’S A GIRL!
Keepers at Western Plains Zoo are walking tall with pride at the arrival of the second female giraffe calf born to the Zoo’s breeding program since 2003. The calf, who has been named Asmara after a city in Eritrea, Africa, was born on Monday, 24 July 2007
Giraffe Keeper Kevin Milton said: “Nine-year-old mother Tulli went into labour on exhibit at about 1.00pm. She was encouraged into a behind-the-scenes holding yard so that keepers could monitor her progress throughout the afternoon.”
Tulli gave birth shortly after 3.30pm in the usual giraffe fashion – standing up, meaning that Asmara’s first experience outside the womb was a 1.8 metre drop.
“Asmara was standing within an hour of her birth and suckling soon afterwards,” said Kevin, adding that the whole process was normally very quick. “In the wild, calves that are too slow to get moving can become targets.”
Asmara, who went out on exhibit the day after her birth, now weighs in at 50kg and stands at 170cm tall.
“She is still quite shy and probably will remain so for a few more months,” Kevin said. “She is fitting in really well, which is great to see. The other members of the herd are very protective of her.”
Supervisor, Giraffe Division, Pascale Benoit said: “The arrival of a giraffe calf is always special, but this one is perhaps more so because we have a girl! When she grows up, Asmara will one day play an important role in the region’s breeding program, hopefully producing calves of her own.”
Asmara is the second female sired by Nakuru, a six-year-old male who was brought to Western Plains Zoo in 2000 to add important genetic diversification to the herd. Nakuru’s first daughter, Zarafa, made the journey from Western Plains to Taronga Zoo last year. She is one of a number of animals featured in the newly released book Life is a Zoo, on sale at the Zoo’s Souvenir Shop.
Asmara and her mother Tulli are on display daily at Western Plains Zoo. Visitors to the Zoo can learn more about this remarkable species at the Giraffe Keeper Talk, held at 3.00pm every day with extra talks at 10.25am Saturdays and Sundays. For more information please contact the Zoo on (02) 6881 1400 or visit www.zoo.nsw.gov.au.
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