Image taken by Amiee StubbsNASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Nashville Zoo announced Thursday that one of their Masai giraffes gave birth to a female calf.
Margarita gave birth to the calf around 6 a.m. Sunday. The calf stands 6 feet, 2 inches and weighs about 160 pounds.
Mom and calf are doing well and currently off exhibit. Zoo officials plan to carefully monitor her development and will make a decision on her public debut in the coming weeks.
Margarita gave birth to her first calf, Suzasita, in November 2010. Suzasita was later sent to The Wilds in Ohio to be introduced to her new herd. In December 2011, one of their Masai giraffes, Savannah, died due to complications with her pregnancy.
With the addition of the new calf, the Zoo is now home to three Masai giraffe and one reticulated giraffe.
Masai giraffe are native to the savannas of Kenya and Tanzania in Africa and are known for their oak-leaf shaped spot pattern.
