Utah’s Hogle Zoo announces birth of giraffe calf

SALT LAKE CITY —Utah’s Hogle Zoo announced the healthy arrival of a giraffe calf on Saturday after the zoo’s 8-year-old giraffe gave birth on Monday.

The zoo announced on Jan. 22 that its giraffe, Minka, was expecting her first calf in February. The male calf made an early arrival at 1:38 a.m. in the African Savanna barn. The zoo said he weighed 139 pounds, was five feet, eight inches tall and was healthy.

“In preparation, the team created a soft-landing area to cushion the calf’s natural six-foot drop into the world,” the zoo said. “Thanks to their trusting relationship with Minka and staff proximity, the team was able to assist as the calf found his footing. Once steady, he began walking independently.”

According to the zoo, the calf bonded with his mother, was nursing and exploring quickly after his birth.

Minka, the new calf and his father, 5-year-old Ja, won’t be visible to the public as they bond and the zoo continues to monitor the family. According to the zoo, the entire giraffe heard is kept indoors while temperatures remain below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. 

The zoo did not give information on whether the calf has a name yet.