February 21, 2006
By Thabang Mokoka
A HEFTY new baby has been welcomed at Johannesburg Zoo – a male giraffe, weighing 100 kilograms, was born on 20 January.
"The newborn has brought the zoo delight," says marketing co-ordinator Senzo Ngcobo.
In the past 30 years two giraffes have been born at the zoo, although one born in April 2004 only lived for a week.
The latest addition and its mother were separated from the male giraffe for the first two weeks after the birth, although the dad could see the calf and the mother. This separation is necessary because male giraffes become over-protective of the calves, which in turn prevents the calf from suckling its mother, eventually leading to its death.
Section keeper Piet Malepa says it is a crucial time when the mother and calf are isolated from the herd. It is a critical to do so in the first two weeks because this allows the mother and the calf time to bond and to prevent the very inquisitive father from disturbing the calf while it is suckling.
"The father has recently been introduced and everything is going very well, it is now one happy family," he says.
Curator Dominic Moss says the giraffe calf begins browsing on leaves and twigs in its first month and is rarely seen suckling after this. A roster was drawn up after the birth to ensure that there was a zoo keeper watching the mother and calf closely, he says.
However, once they were happy that all was well with the mother and baby, the continuous watch was stopped.
Ngqobo adds that the zoo's management is happy to report that the calf is engaging more and more with its mother. It is still suckling, and now weighs about 120 kilograms.
The newborn has not been named yet because the zoo's animals are only given names when they are adopted by a sponsor or at special events. "If a sponsor adopts the giraffe or any other animal in the zoo, it will be given a name," Ngqobo explains.
Visitors can view the newborn in its enclosure at the Johannesburg Zoo. It is open seven days a week, from 8.30am to 5.30pm.
Ticket prices range from R19 for children under 12 and pensioners, R32 for adults and R13 per person for school or welfare groups. To park in the parking is R10 for taxis and cars and R20 for busses.
The zoo located is on the corner of Jan Smuts Avenue and Upper Park Drive in Parkview, Johannesburg, with the main entrance on Upper Park Drive. For more information, contact the zoo on 011 646 2000.
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