Giraffe Times Two: Zoo Announces Birth of Another Giraffe Calf Giraffe Calves Born Just 12 Days Apart - Visitors Witnessed Latest Birth During Highest Attended Week in Zoo History

Theres a baby boom going on at Roger Williams Park Zoo. Right on the heels of the zoos highest attended week in its 130 year history, the zoo is announcing the birth of another giraffe calf, the second giraffe birth this month.

April 26, 2002
Contact:
Lisa Bousquet
(401) 785-3510 ext. 302
lbousquet@rwpzoo.org
Laura Souliere
(401) 785-3510 ext. 320
lsouliere@rwpzoo.org

Providence, RI -- Theres a baby boom going on at Roger Williams Park Zoo. Right on the heels of the zoos highest attended week in its 130 year history, the zoo is announcing the birth of another giraffe calf, the second giraffe birth this month.
The zoo hosted its annual Conservation Week and Earth Day celebration during school vacation week, April 15th through the 20th. Though these events typically draw large crowds, theres no doubt that at least part of the reason for the record 59,000 visitors to the zoo that week was the arrival of Imara, the zoos third giraffe calf in five years.
   As if that werent enough, on that Tuesday, April 16th, visitors to the zoo had the opportunity to see first hand a truly unique occurrence -- the birth of yet another giraffe calf.
This latest calf, another female named Keana, was born to Amber, one of the zoos two adult female giraffes. Keana, whose name means gentle breeze" in Hawaiian, makes a total of four giraffe calves born at the zoo in the last five years.
   It was just about 10 a.m. that Amber, who had been showing signs that birth was imminent for days, began to deliver her calf. Though she was in a separate enclosure from the other giraffes for her own comfort and protection during the birth, she was still outside and visible to zoo visitors. Crowds gathered along the perimeter of the giraffe exhibit trying to catch a glimpse of the amazing event. And after what seemed like no time at all, Keana literally dropped into the world around noontime.
It was only 12 days before on April 4th that Sukari, the zoos other adult female giraffe, had given birth to Imara. Griffin, the only male giraffe at Roger Williams Park Zoo, fathered both of the calves. Weather permitting, Keana will make her debut outside on exhibit with Imara next week.
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Its expected that this first ever opportunity to watch two calves interact and grow up together at Roger Williams Park Zoo will draw even more visitors in the coming weeks. The births of these calves is significant -- giraffes are a threatened species and there are less than 60 Masai giraffes in North American zoos.
Video and photos of Imara and Keana and more information about giraffe calves is available from the zoos website, www.rogerwilliamsparkzoo.org.
In light of these giraffe births, and several other recent births, the zoo will host a special Meet Our Moms day on Mothers Day, May 12th. With six babies and five moms from four species, the zoo seems the perfect activity for this Mothers Day.
All mothers, grandmothers, stepmothers and honorary mothers will receive half price admission to the zoo when accompanied by a child. Zoo admission is $7 for adults, $4.50 for children ages 3 -- 12 and seniors. Children under three are free.
The first 1,000 moms to enter the zoo will also receive a special token of appreciation along with a guide to all the zoos new moms. For more information, call (401) 785-3510 or visit the zoos website.
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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