A Baby Giraffe Was Born Backstage at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Here's some happy news—a baby female Masai giraffe was born backstage at Disney's Animal Kingdom this week. The yet-to-be-named calf was delivered on Tuesday (September 22) to parents, Mara and George, who were mated through the Species Survival Plan (SSP), which ensures the responsible breeding of endangered species.

"Weighing in at 156 pounds, she is healthy, actively nursing and was strong and feisty during her neonatal exam," Scott Terrell, DVM, DACVP, Director of Animal & Science Operations, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, wrote in his announcement. "Our girl, yet-to-be-named, is already showing she has a close bond with her mom Mara. The pair will continue to stay backstage until baby meets all her developmental milestones. We expect her to join the herd on the savanna in the coming weeks."

This is the second new giraffe calf to be welcomed at Disney's Animal Kingdom over the last couple of years. In 2019, George and Mara welcome their first calf Jabari, on Harambe Wildlife Reserve within the park's Kilimanjaro Safaris.

For those curious to learn more about Mara, George, Jabari and the newest addition to their family, the giraffes feature prominently in National Geographic’s new Disney+ series, Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which premiered on Friday (September 25). Mara's own mother, named Kenya, is one of the series' main focus. According to the press release, the eight-episode series takes viewers behind the scenes of Disney's Animal Kingdom park to catch an intimate look at the 5,000+ animals that live there.

Photo: Disney


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