Roger Williams Park Zoo Announces Giraffe Birth The calf is third giraffe born at zoo in five years

Roger Williams Park Zoo has announced the arrival of a long-awaited special delivery" -- a Masai giraffe, born at 10:40 a.m. on April 4th. The calf, a female, weighs in at approximately 150 pounds and stands more than five feet tall.

Providence, RI -- Roger Williams Park Zoo has announced the arrival of a long-awaited special delivery" -- a Masai giraffe, born at 10:40 a.m. on April 4th. The calf, a female, weighs in at approximately 150 pounds and stands more than five feet tall.
The calf, Imara, joins her mother Sukari, her father Griffin, and Amber, another female giraffe, as part of the Plains of Africa exhibit at the zoo. Imara is the third giraffe born at the zoo in the past five years. The other two giraffes, Autumn and Naivasha, were born in 1997 and 2000 respectively.
Once zoo officials determined Sukari was pregnant, they monitored her progress closely. The normal gestation period for a giraffe is 15 months. Mothers usually give birth standing up - the calf emerges front legs first and literally drops into the world.
This calf was up and standing steadily within just 20 minutes of her birth (although it did take her seven attempts to get to her feet!) Accordingly, zookeepers named her Imara, which means strong" in Swahili.
The Masai is one of four subspecies of giraffes managed in North American zoos. Giraffes exhibit considerable variations in hair color and pattern, the most common being the reticulated pattern (very consistent square block pattern). Masai giraffes, however, are not reticulated but instead have irregular blotchy patterning.
Worldwide, Masai giraffes are considered a threatened species because of habitat loss, making this recent birth especially significant. There are an estimated 110,000 giraffes left in the wild, according to a 2000 report by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association.
The total number of Masai giraffes in captivity worldwide is 108, with almost 60 of those in North American zoos. Because this calf will be one of less than 60 Masias in captivity, her birth is significant for the sustainability and well-being of the North American giraffe population," said Bruce Clark, Zoo Director.
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Imara is becoming acclimated to her new home and will be on exhibit for the public to see in time for April school vacation, when the zoo will host its annual Conservation Week. Conservation Week runs April 15th to the 19th and will be followed by Rhode Islands largest Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 20th.    
Conservation Around the World" is the theme of this years Conservation Week activities. From Africa" to Australasia," selected exhibit areas will celebrate and investigate the conservation issues, environment and culture that are native to that region with music, displays, crafts and presentations. On Earth Day over 30 area environmental organizations will be spread throughout the upper zoo, focusing on a wide range of both local and global conservation and environmental issues.
   Conservation Week and Earth Day activities are free with regular zoo admission, which is $7 for adults, $4.50 for children ages 3 to 12 and seniors, and free for children under 3. For more information on these events, or to check out adorable video of Imaras birth and first hour of life, visit the zoos website at www.rogerwilliamsparkzoo.org.
Roger Williams Park Zoo, the third oldest zoo in the country, has received awards and accolades from all over the country for its conservation and education efforts. The Boston Globe calls Roger Williams Park Zoo New Englands great zoo." Yankee Magazine called Roger Williams Park Zoo one of the outstanding reasons to visit New England" and the New York Times says it is one of the best zoos in the country for its conservation efforts."
Roger Williams Park zoo is supported by the Rhode Island Zoological Society and is operated by the City of Providence, Vincent A. Cianci, Mayor and Nancy L. Derrig, Superintendent of Parks.

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***Contact the RWPZ PR Office at (401) 785-3510 ext. 320 or lsouliere@rwpzoo.org for photos of the giraffe.