We have some BIG news to share: our 12-year-old Masai giraffe Kumi is pregnant!  

This is the first giraffe birth at our Zoo since this little one’s sire, Mapenzi, was born in 2020! To say we are excited might be an understatement.  

Giraffe are pregnant for about 13–15 months – quite a window of time! We’re hoping to welcome Kumi’s calf sometime this summer.  

Kumi and Mapenzi were paired up according to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan for Masai giraffes. This program ensures there is a healthy, genetically diverse safeguard population in AZA-accredited organizations.  

This calf’s arrival is good news for the Masai giraffe subspecies, which is considered endangered and is threatened by habitat loss, poaching, disease and more in Tanzania and Kenya. 

Although it’s been some time since we’ve had a giraffe birth at our Zoo, Kumi is surrounded by an experienced animal care team that includes senior members who have handled giraffe births before.  

Not too much has changed with Kumi right now – she’s healthy and up to her usual behaviors. As we get closer to the birth window, her animal care team will closely monitor her for any possible signs of labor – restlessness, inappetence, bagging of her udders, etc.  

Giraffe calves are pretty big babies (physically, that is) at 6 feet tall and about 150 pounds at birth. They face a hefty 6-foot drop from their mothers at birth that breaks the umbilical cord, encourages their first breath and jumpstarts their ability to be up and walking within an hour of birth.  

After birth, Kumi and her little one will stay behind-the-scenes for some quality time together except for a brief exam by our animal care and veterinary teams to ensure all is well with the calf. There’s no set timeline for introductions to the rest of the herd and to their public-facing areas like our giraffe veldt. The behaviors of Kumi and the calf will lead the way.  

We’ll keep you updated on any developments here on our blog as well as on our social media channels.  

Brevard Zoo is an independent, not-for-profit organization that receives no recurring government funding for our operating costs. Your generous support enables us to continue to serve our community and continue our vital animal wellness, education and conservation programs.