Utah’s Hogle Zoo announces the expectant birth of a baby giraffe

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s Hogle Zoo is expecting the birth of a new giraffe calf in February after the zoo announced on Thursday that Minka, one of the zoo’s giraffes, was 15 months pregnant.

“Minka’s pregnancy represents an important step in protecting giraffes, a vulnerable species facing habitat loss, human population growth, and poaching,” the zoo said.

According to Utah’s Hogle Zoo, Minka came to the zoo in 2019 and is 8 years old. The father of her calf is 5-year-old Ja, who arrived at the zoo in 2022.

“Since this is Minka’s first pregnancy, zoo teams are taking a thoughtful, proactive approach as she nears her February birth window,” the zoo said. “Preparations include adjustments to the giraffe barn, increased monitoring, and additional overnight watches to ensure the best possible care for both Minka and her calf.”

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This story may be updated as more information becomes available.