North American Masai Giraffe Population

Buttercup at Oregon is supposed to be moving soon too. Wonder where he is going?

 

It hasn't happened yet, or at least hadn't as of last weekend. Generally the LA Zoo mentions such loans in those reports in advance of any anticipated/recommended moves, at least that's been what I've noticed over the years as a member who pays attention to the reports. Some moves can take awhile or might never happen.

In the minutes for the April 2023 Commission meeting it states:

"Our young Male Giraffe is in conflict with his father and will be going to the Columbus Zoo and the other young male will be going to Oregon."

Based on that description, and in light of my conversation with one of the educators at the LA Zoo, James left for the Oregon Zoo earlier this month. "Shaq", the young male born in April 2022, must be the male slated to move to the Columbus Zoo.

 

Can somebody do a list like this for reticulated giraffes?

 

No, they’re not pure bred and there are far too many the Rothschild’s x reticulated hybrids. It’s been mentioned before, just pop back a few pages.

 

Then could somebody at least create a list for the ones held in Fort Worth and Gladys Porter? I've tried to but there are so many of them, so I can't quite figure out who is still there and who has moved to another zoo.

 

Have any zoos switched from keeping Masai giraffes to generic giraffes somewhat recently?

I am not completely certain about the details of the conversation, but remember that I spoke to someone (I thought it was at the Detroit Zoo in 2018) who said that their facility was done holding Masai giraffes and would instead hold reticulated giraffes because Masai giraffes are more prone to injuries and diseases. Obviously, those reticulated giraffes would've actually been generic. I now know that the SSP has the goal of expanding the Masai giraffe population, which means that zoos will eventually acquire them and phase-out generic giraffes.

Looking at articles from 2014, there were generic giraffes in Detroit. Because of this, I'm assuming I am thinking of another facility I visited.

 

You are likely thinking of Toledo.

 

I've never been to Toledo (though hopefully I will soon). Is there another possibility?

 

Calgary announce Emara's cause of death was a broken neck after a tragic accident before staff arrived in the morning. Good news in this is that there is no threat to the remaining giraffes Nabo and Moshi.

Wilder Institute Mourning the Loss of a Beloved Zoo Resident | Wilder Institute Calgary Zoo

 

Per a news email from the Santa Barbara Zoo today, Theo arrived from Cincinnati about 2 weeks ago.

 

Fresno - a male calf was born sometime in May to first-time parents, Fenny and Siku. Unfortunately, the calf is being bottle-fed due to some complications at birth but he is doing well and is growing rapidly!

 

Two brand new parents! Great news for the population indeed! Fingers crossed he doesn't get unlucky like a few other captive Masai Giraffes born with birth complications and survives successfully into adulthood. I believe there was one born at Santa Barbara that died this way recently after recovering.

 

Safari West's lone Masai giraffe, a (0.1) named Jamala, passed away ~May 18th at age 25.

Safari West

 

Rocket from the Turtle Back Zoo has been moved to Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

 

Alika has been transferred to Kansas City Zoo in order to breed with their male, Aidan.

 

Cameron Park - Penelope gave birth to a healthy female calf on June 23rd. This is Dane and Penelope’s second calf after Zeke in January 2021, who was recently transferred to Cincinnati Zoo.

 

James moved to Oregon from LA sometime recently.

 

(0.1) Masai giraffe Twiga from the Ellen Trout Zoo in Texas passed away at the age of 31 on July 7th.

Ellen Trout Zoo [official]

 

(0.1) Masai giraffe Penelope from the Cameron Park Zoo in Texas passed away on July 19th at age 10.

Cameron Park Zoo

 

Her calf born in June has been named Zuri.
Mother who recently birthed baby giraffe at Cameron Park Zoo dies