Louisville Zoo celebrates arrival of Masai giraffe calf

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The Louisville Zoo welcomed a baby Masai giraffe over the weekend.

The female calf was born the morning of Sunday, May 3, to mother Kianga and father Baridi.

The calf weighs 190 pounds and measures 74 inches tall.

The zoo said a name would be announced "in the coming weeks."

"The birth of this Masai giraffe calf is a powerful reminder of why accredited zoos are essential," Dan Maloney, Louisville Zoo director, said in a news release. "Masai giraffes are an endangered species, and every healthy calf represents hope for the future."

Maloney said the baby marks the zoo's 25th calf, who is being raised and nurtured off-exhibit while she bonds with her mother.

The zoo says Masai giraffes are native to East Africa and are the largest subspecies of giraffes, distinguished by their irregular, star-shaped spots that are unique to each individual giraffe. Officials said Masai giraffe numbers have "declined more than 50% in the last 30 years."

The zoo said the calf would make her public debut "in the coming weeks."