SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — A new baby giraffe is drawing attention at Utah’s Hogle Zoo.
Baby Hal is still adjusting to life outside the womb, staying close to his mom, nursing often and slowly gaining confidence as he explores his surroundings.
But Hal’s story is much bigger than one baby giraffe.
“Giraffe are going through what is called a silent extinction,” said Melissa Dacumos, associate director of animal care at Utah’s Hogle Zoo.
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Dacumos has dedicated her career to caring for giraffes and protecting their future.
“Their numbers are really dwindling in the wild,” she said.
She oversees the Africa and Savannah areas at Hogle Zoo and serves on an international conservation team working to manage giraffe populations worldwide.
“I’m currently on what is called the Giraffe SSP Management Group,” Dacumos said. “So we’re all a community. We all want what’s best for giraffe.”
The reality facing giraffes is sobering. Several subspecies are critically endangered, and two species are classified as endangered.
That’s why births like Hal’s matter.
Hal is the second giraffe born at Hogle Zoo in just one year, part of a carefully coordinated breeding program designed to help maintain healthy giraffe populations in human care.
“So Hal’s father is Ja, who is our current bull. He came to us from the Memphis Zoo,” Dacumos said.
Named after NBA star Ja Morant, Ja plays an important role in the zoo’s breeding program.
“He’ll continue to breed our adult females for the foreseeable future,” Dacumos said.
One day, Hal could follow a similar path, potentially moving to another zoo to support conservation efforts.
“The babies that are born here may stay here or they may actually go and help populate other zoos as well,” Dacumos said. “That’s one of the ways we can actually help keep a sustainable population within human care.”
Zoo leaders say they are planning for more giraffes in the future.
“We definitely are,” Dacumos said. “We are leaning into having a robust breeding herd.”
But conservation often begins with something simple, connection.
“It starts with maybe seeing a giraffe in person and feeling that love and inspiration to go do more in the wild,” Dacumos said.
For Dacumos, that moment happened decades ago.
“I just remember being so in awe of their presence,” she said. “Of course, I knew that they were beautiful but to be truly up close is what solidified a love of giraffe for me,” she said.
For now, Hal is just learning to walk, nurse and grow. But his baby steps today could help protect giraffes tomorrow.
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