Zoo welcomes baby giraffe

Calf has not yet been named

New baby giraffe (Photo courtesy: Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A female reticulated giraffe was born Saturday afternoon at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.

The 5-foot-11-inch calf weighed 145 pounds at her first exam, zookeepers said. She is the third calf for the mother, Luna, and the 15th for the father, Duke.

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Luna went into labor while she was on exhibit and zoo guests were able to see the early stages of the birth.

Zookeepers then called Luna over to the birthing suite in the barn. Zookeepers said Luna had been encouraged to roam with the rest of the herd prior to that because of her previous positive birth experiences and healthy pregnancy.

The opportunity to name the calf will be auctioned off at this year’s ExZOOberation, the zoo said Wednesday.

Anyone who wishes to see the zoo’s new addition can find her and her mother in the side yard of the giraffe exhibit, which is visible from the train. The zoo said she will then begin short stays in the primary exhibit Friday through Memorial Day weekend.

For more details on attraction passes and deals, visit the zoo’s website.