New Baby Female Giraffe Born at Living Desert Zoo, Coachella Valley

New Baby Female Giraffe Born at Living Desert Zoo

The female calf weighs in at 149.6 pounds and stands 6 feet 1 inch tall.

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens welcomed a new female giraffe calf to the herd during the early morning hours of the first day of Spring, March 20.

The female calf, born to mother Dadisi (DA-dee-see) and father Hesabu (Heh-SAW-boo), weighs in at 149.6 pounds and stands 6 feet 1 inch tall.

“We are thrilled to share the news of this new addition. Mother and calf are doing very well and are currently bonding behind-the-scenes,” Living Desert President/CEO Allen Monroe said. “Guests will have the opportunity to see mother and calf in the near future.”

This is the eighth calf for Dadisi, who is 18 years old and has lived at The Living Desert since 2002. This is her third female calf. Dadisi is also mom to 18 month old giraffe, Shellie Muujiza.

This is the tenth calf for father, Hesabu, who passed away in December of 2018 after a rapid decline in his health. The Living Desert is home to a herd of nine giraffe, five males and four females.

“Hesabu’s legacy will continue to live on through his offspring, helping to build connections with our guests and fostering appreciation for the natural world,” Living Desert Director of Animal Care RoxAnna Breitigan said.

“Dadisi and her calf have bonded and are doing very well. The well-baby exam showed that all her vitals are within the normal range and she is progressing as expected,” said Dr. Andrea Goodnight, Head Veterinarian at The Living Desert. “She is tall, healthy and absolutely adorable.”

Giraffe gestation is about 15 months. The calf will nurse for nine to 12 months, and begin eating foliage around two months old. She’s expected to double her size by the time she turns a year old.

Visitors can participate in the zoo’s giraffe feedings from 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. daily. The cost is $7 per person or $5 for members.

For more information, call (760) 346-5694 or visit www.LivingDesert.org. The Living Desert is located at 47900 Portola Avenue, Palm Desert, CA 92260.

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