BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Gail, a female giraffe calf born on Sept. 14, made her first public appearance on Tuesday at Brevard Zoo in Melbourne.
She is the first giraffe calf born at the facility in six years.
Gail spent her first weeks bonding with her 12-year-old mother, Kumi and meeting the zoo’s five other giraffe residents. Her father, Six-year-old Mapenzi, was the last giraffe calf born at the zoo.
During her debut in the guest-facing habitat, Gail explored trees and boulders while observing neighboring animals, including ostriches and impala.
The pairing of Kumi and Mapenzi was arranged through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan for Masai giraffes. The program works to maintain a healthy and genetically diverse population within accredited zoo organizations.
Masai giraffes are classified as an endangered subspecies facing ongoing threats in Kenya and Tanzania, including habitat loss, poaching and disease.
Lauren Hinson serves as the director of animal programs at Brevard Zoo. “Offering our animal residents choice and control over how and where they spend their days is important to us, so you may see Gail and Kumi enjoying what we call the ‘veldt’ — or they may decide to have a quiet morning in the Zoo’s Africa Barn,” Hinson said.
Brevard Zoo is a nonprofit organization located in Melbourne, Fla. The facility houses more than 700 animals representing 170 species.
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