Latest news with #MasaiGiraffe
CBS News
23-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Sacramento Zoo welcomes new Masai giraffe, named Henry, from Virginia
SACRAMENTO — The Sacramento Zoo recently welcomed a new male Masai giraffe from the East Coast. The giraffe, named Henry, is 1.5 years old and arrived in the capital city from the Virginia Zoo on April 26. The Sacramento Zoo said Henry has already fully integrated into the existing herd of Masai giraffes, which are considered vulnerable to endangerment. Henry the Masaii giraffe Sacramento Zoo Henry will be about 19 feet tall once fully grown, making him the tallest in the zoo's herd. He is the lightest colored giraffe in the herd. The zoo said Henry came to Sacramento on a breeding recommendation and is a genetic match with all the female giraffes it currently houses. "The arrival of Henry marks an exciting milestone in our ongoing commitment to giraffe conservation. ... We look forward to his integration and the potential for future offspring, further contributing to the conservation of this iconic species," said Matt McKim, the zoo's chief animal programs officer. At the beginning of March, a new Masai giraffe was born at the Sacramento Zoo. In April, its name was announced as Sumi. Also in April, the Sacramento Zoo welcomed two new clouded leopards, named Serai and Rajasi
CTV News
12-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
11-year-old endangered Masai giraffe at the Toronto Zoo is pregnant
An endangered Masai giraffe at the Toronto Zoo is expecting another calf. An endangered Masai giraffe at the Toronto Zoo is expecting another calf. The zoo announced on Sunday that Mstari, an 11.5-year-old Masai giraffe, is pregnant. Mstari, who belongs to an endangered species, is six months into her 13 to 16-month-long pregnancy and is doing well so far, a news release by the zoo says. Her due date is estimated to be late winter to early spring, 2026, based on her previous pregnancies, the zoo officials say. Mstari gave birth to another calf - Matu – in 2022 but the two-year-old giraffe died last summer while under general anesthesia for a castration procedure. For her third calf, Mstari was paired with 12.5-year-old Kiko as a part of a cooperative breeding program among accredited zoos called the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Masai Giraffe Species Survival Plan® (SSP). The Wildlife Care staff collected Mstari's feces three times a week to monitor her hormone levels in preparation for the introduction of the two animals. Their breeding introductions were carefully observed by the staff until Nov. 4, 2024, the zoo says. Two months later, the zoo's Reproductive Science team confirmed that Mstari showed normal hormonal signs of being pregnant after analyzing several months of her fecal samples for pregnancy hormones. Masai giraffes were designated as 'endangered' by the International Union for Conservation and Nature (IUCN) in December 2018. Less than 35,000 Masai giraffes live in the wild after a more than 50 per cent decline in the past 30 years due to illegal hunting and habitat loss, the zoo says. 'The reality for many species is simple: Out of sight, out of mind, and off the planet,' Dolf DeJong, CEO of Toronto Zoo says. 'Accredited zoos like your Toronto Zoo play a critical role in ensuring a better future for wildlife and wild spaces, and as Guardians of Wild we are proud to be contributing to the population of this endangered species.'
CBC
11-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Baby on the way for Toronto Zoo's Masai giraffe
Social Sharing The Toronto Zoo is celebrating Mother's Day by preparing for a new arrival, as Mstari, an 11 year old Masai giraffe, is expecting a calf. Mstari is six months into her pregnancy, which typically lasts between 13 to 16 months, and is doing well so far, the zoo said in a news release Sunday. Based on her previous pregnancies, the zoo said it expects the birth to happen between late winter to early spring 2026. The father is Kiko, a 12 year old giraffe. Their pairing was recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Masai Giraffe Species Survival Plan, which is a co-operative breeding program among accredited zoos, the news release said. Masai giraffes are found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, according to the Toronto Zoo's website. They are considered endangered by the International Union for Conservation and Nature. Fewer than 35,00 Masai giraffes survive in the wild, and the species has declined by more than 50 per cent in the last 30 years, according to Sunday's news release. Illegal hunting and habitat loss are their primary threats.
