San Diego Zoo Safari Park welcomes birth of Masai giraffe calf

The newcomer to San Diego Zoo Safari Park a Masai giraffe calf Photo courtesy of Safari Park The San Diego Zoo Safari Park experienced a favored event a week ago Mother Mara and father Gown welcomed a Masai giraffe calf wonderful for the new mom and dad but also for conservation The birth will help maintain Masai giraffes genetic diversity and ensure their global population remains strong and healthy Guests at the Safari Park in Escondido can experience Mara and her calf bonding in the South Africa habitat Giraffes are attentive and protective of their newborns They temporarily separate themselves from the rest of the herd during labor and delivery allowing them to bond with the calf When the dam as the mamas are known and calf rejoin the rest of the herd the other females will take turns watching over the calf so the dam has a break to feed herself Masai giraffes are classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species Though they have very limited natural predators their populations have decreased in their native habitat by over the past years due to challenges with human-wildlife co-existence including unsustainable habitat loss The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is an functioning member of the Masai Giraffe Species Survival Plan Initiative which works to protect giraffes natural habitat through the Savanna Conservation Hub