SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — A baby giraffe is expected to join the Hogle Zoo family this February.
Utah’s Hogle Zoo announced its 8-year-old giraffe, Minka, was nearing the end of her 15-month pregnancy and expecting her first calf in February.
Animal care and health teams are monitoring Minka’s progress carefully, especially as this is Minka’s first pregnancy.
“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,” said zoo officials. This includes keeping a nice, warm spot inside where giraffes spend most of their time during the winter months.
Minka has been with Hogle Zoo since 2019, when she came on a breeding recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan. The father, 5-year-old Ja, joined the zoo in 2022. While this is Minka’s first pregnancy, this will be the second time Ja has fathered a calf. His first calf was born in February 2025 to Stephanie.
Utah’s Hogle Zoo said Minka’s pregnancy is an important step to protecting giraffes. With only 117,000 giraffes left in the wild, the species is considered to be “vulnerable,” according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The giraffe population has seen a dramatic decline in the last decade, in large part due to habitat loss, human population growth and poaching.
During these winter months, the giraffes at Hogle Zoo will typically spend most of their time inside. On days when temperatures are 50 degrees or higher, giraffes may choose to go outside, based on their own comfort levels.
Comment with Bubbles
JOIN THE CONVERSATION (2)
_____