THE 3-WEEK-OLD FEMALE WILL BE MAKING HER PUBLIC DEBUT SEPTEMBER 8
BROOKFIELD– The 3-week-old female giraffe calf born on August 19 will be making her public debut tomorrow, September 8. She and her mother, Arnieta, have access to the indoor area at Habitat Africa! The Savannah. For the immediate future, they can be seen daily between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Hours will be extended in the coming weeks as well as introductions to the outdoor habitat and the other giraffes in the herd.
The calf has been named Kinda (rhymes with Linda), which is a rare and pretty name with Swahili and Arabic origins and means “beautiful.” Since her birth, Kinda and her mother have been behind the scenes to allow them time to bond.
Animal care staff have been monitoring Kinda to ensure she is meeting developmental milestones such as nursing frequently, gaining weight, starting to drink water, and occasionally even sampling leaves. Although she has begun to nibble on browse, Kinda will not begin eating solid foods consistently until she is about 3 or 4 months old. By the time she is a year old, she should be fully weaned. A calf may grow 3 feet in six months and may nurse up to 13 months of age. When fully grown, Kinda will measure between 15 and 16 feet tall.
Those interested in helping care for the giraffes at Brookfield Zoo can contribute to the Animal Adoption program. For $35, a recipient receives the Basic Package, which includes a 5-inch x 7-inch color photograph of a giraffe, a personalized certificate of adoption, a fact sheet on the species, an Animal Adoption program decal, and an invitation to the exclusive 2023 Animal Adoption summer event. To purchase, visit www.CZS.org/AnimalAdoption.
