{"id":497266,"date":"2026-02-24T23:00:12","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T23:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/497266\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T23:00:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T23:00:12","slug":"new-addition-to-toronto-zoo-as-endangered-giraffe-is-born","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/497266\/","title":{"rendered":"New addition to Toronto Zoo as endangered giraffe is born"},"content":{"rendered":"

There is a new addition to the Toronto Zoo.<\/p>\n

Early Sunday morning, a Masai giraffe calf was born following her mother\u2019s 15-month pregnancy, the zoo announced in a release Tuesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis endangered Masai giraffe calf is an incredible addition to your Toronto Zoo,\u201d said the zoo\u2019s CEO Dolf DeJong.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe announced Mstari\u2019s pregnancy on Mother\u2019s Day last year and after a 15-month pregnancy, we are thrilled to have a healthy calf in our care.\u201d<\/p>\n

The calf was born at 1:26 a.m. on Sunday and was already standing about 30 minutes later, around 2 a.m.<\/p>\n

The mom and baby were left to bond on Sunday.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

The first health check happened Monday morning, when the health team confirmed the calf is female and that she\u2019s healthy.<\/p>\n

She\u2019s six feet, four inches tall, or 1.95 metres.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The Toronto Zoo is part of a breeding program among accredited zoos for Masai giraffes, which were declared endangered several years ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cBreeding introductions were carefully observed up to Nov. 4, 2024,\u202f and\u202fin January 2025, our reproductive science team analyzed several months of fecal samples for pregnancy hormone levels and confirmed that Mstari was showing normal hormonal signs of being pregnant,\u201d the Toronto Zoo said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are overjoyed to share the heartwarming news of this special arrival, and it carries even deeper meaning as we honour Kiko, the calf\u2019s father, who unexpectedly passed away last month<\/a>. While we continue to feel his absence, his legacy lives on.\u201d<\/p>\n

There are less than 35,000 Masai giraffes in the wild, marking a 50 per cent drop over the past 30 years, with illegal hunting and habitat loss their primary threats, the Toronto Zoo said.<\/p>\n

The zoo said it supports field conservation efforts through the Wild Nature Institute\u2019s Masai Giraffe Project.<\/p>\n

The baby calf and her mom are currently not available for viewing at the zoo.<\/p>\n

\u201cWatch for baby and mom updates to be shared on our social media, including when you will have an opportunity to meet this tallest bundle of joy,\u201d the zoo said.<\/p>\n

Lead image via YouTube \/ Toronto Zoo<\/p>\n


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