Tanganyika announces new giraffe calves

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Tanganyika Wildlife Park announced three new giraffe calves to its herd on Wednesday.

Tanganyika said in a news release two of the calves are male, and one is a female. The first male, named Otto, was born on July 31.

Otto wasn’t getting the necessary nutrition from his mom and is currently being bottle-fed behind the scenes while he gains strength during his early development, Tanganyika said in the release.

The second calf is a female born on Aug. 21. She just made her public debut with the herd on the habitat.

The most recent addition was a male born on Sept. 1 to mom Savvy. He lives with the group of giraffes in Tanganyika’s Safari area, part of their ongoing expansion.

“Giraffes are facing increasing threats in the wild due to habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict,” Dr. Samantha Russak, Chief of Research and Welfare at Tanganyika, said in the release. “These births mark the 72nd giraffes born at Tanganyika since the park was founded. This breeding program plays a crucial role in maintaining genetic diversity and supporting global preservation efforts.”

Tanganyika said the gestation period for a giraffe is around 15 months, and the mothers give birth while standing with the calf being born hooves-first. That means the calves drop roughly six feet, which is a crucial step that helps the calf to stand quickly.

“All three babies stood up quickly, which is an important sign of their early health,” hoofstock keeper Robert Olmstead said in the release. “In the wild, the ability to stand and move soon after birth is vital for avoiding predators.”

Tanganyika Wildlife Park is open for the season through Nov. 10, offering guests the chance to experience its renowned animal encounters. These include the opportunity to get up close with the giraffe herd at the Giraffe Encounter Feeding Station and during the Giraffe Safari Adventure.

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