Giraffe Calf Born at Copenhagen Zoo

A new giraffe calf was born at Copenhagen Zoo on Friday. The calf came into the world on March 13 at 13:03, where both visitors and staff were able to witness the birth. According to the zoo, both the mother and the calf are doing well.

The animal keepers had already noticed around 09:30 that the birth had begun in the giraffe stable.

“The giraffe mother is a first-time parent and takes breaks during the birth. So it is completely natural that it takes time,” says animal keeper Nicolai Østergaard.

Both the giraffe mother and father are first-time parents. According to the keeper, the breeding male was very young and short when he arrived at the zoo, which initially made mating difficult.

“Our challenge has been that the new breeding male was very young and not very tall when he came to the zoo. The females were in heat, and he also knew what to do, but he simply could not reach. But he grew, and eventually it succeeded,” says Nicolai Østergaard.

A giraffe is pregnant for around 15 months and normally gives birth to one calf. At birth, a giraffe calf is just under two metres tall and weighs between 50 and 60 kilos.

For the first period, the newborn calf will stay in the stable together with its mother. Visitors may catch a glimpse of it there while veterinarians will examine it and determine its sex. Only when the calf is standing securely on its legs will it gradually be introduced to the rest of the savannah.

According to the zoo, more giraffe births may be on the way.

“Our two other female giraffes are also pregnant. We expect them to give birth within the next couple of months,” says Nicolai Østergaard.

Giraffes are close to becoming a threatened species in the wild, partly due to human activity that limits their habitats. Copenhagen Zoo therefore participates in an international breeding programme for giraffes.

“We are very pleased. The European giraffe population is declining, so new births are important for the breeding programme. At the zoo we have three females who should all ideally contribute with calves,” says zoo director Mads Frost Bertelsen.