Reproduction

Giraffes are polygynous (mate randomly throughout the herd) and mate throughout the year as there is no mating season. Females reach sexual maturity at two to five years of age and males reach sexual maturity at three and a half years of age. Female estrus occurs every two weeks and generally lasts about a day. When a female is in estrus the male will perform what is known as flehmen, testing their urine. Presumably the urine of a female in estrus has a distinct taste or odour. Once the male has determined that the female is in fact in estrus he will begin to court her and they will eventually mate. A giraffe’s gestation period is fifteen months and there is usually only one calf born. The female can mate again 5 months after giving birth. A cow may produce up to 12 calves in her lifetime.

Female giraffes conceive for the first time in their fifth year. With a gestation period of 15 months, a mean interval between births of 20 months, and a maximum longevity of 25 years, a cow may produce up to 12 calves in her lifetime.

Newborn calves usually stand 6 feet and weigh approx. 150 lbs. After being dropped about 6 feet to the ground, they stand on wobbly legs about 20 minutes after birth and begin to nurse within 1 hour. Male calves are weaned at about 15 months, female calves a couple of months later.

It is a little hard to get a good look at newborn Mashama’s face. That’s because he’s a bit taller than the average youngster--Mashama is a 5-foot-9-inch male reticulated giraffe calf. He was born on August 29 at Brookfield Zoo.

Mashama is the first offspring of both his 10-year-old mother, Franny, and his five-year-old father, Dusti. His name means “surprise” in the Zimbabwe language, and was chosen because staff was astounded and delighted that Franny gave birth so late in life. Currently, Franny and her calf have access to an indoor area at the zoo’s Habitat Africa! The Savannah exhibit. Dusti and two other females, Kelsey, 3, and Mithra, 11, can be seen outdoors. Eventually, Franny and Mashama will be reunited with the rest of the herd.

Initially the young giraffe’s legs were a little weak. After careful assessment, the zoo’s veterinarians and animal care staff decided to wrap his lower hind legs to help support them for the first few days of his life. Veterinarians removed the bandages after 72 hours, and he is getting stronger every day.

A giraffe calf is born following a gestation period of 14½ months. The mother gives birth while standing, which entails a nearly six foot drop for the newborn--quite a rude awakening! The calf gains its footing within an hour of birth. During his first few months of life, Mashama will not be very active, which will enable him to grow more quickly. It is not unusual for a calf to grow three feet in six months. Mashama may nurse for up to 13 months and remains with its mother for several more.

In the wild, reticulated giraffes inhabit dry savannahs and open woodlands in northeastern Kenya. Although once common, their numbers have decreased due to excessive hunting and land-use competition. In 2000, the American Zoo and Aquarium Association formed a new Species Survival Plan (SSP) for three species of giraffes—reticulated, Rothschild’s, and Masai—managed in North American zoos. An SSP is a cooperative conservation management program to protect species from extinction through long-term captive breeding. The plan uses the most up-to-date, scientific, and technological resources available to aid threatened and endangered species. Currently, there are approximately 462 giraffes in North American zoos. Because he is the first calf for both of his parents, Mashama will be an important individual in the SSP for years to come.