| Why is a giraffe’s neck so long? Because its head is so far away from its body. Okay, I won’t quit my day job, but by any, um, stretch, giraffes look like nothing else on this earth. Big body, loooong legs, a huge neck, and the answer to chewing leaves out of the reach of most other creatures, giraffes always draw a large share of “clicks” when cameras are around.
The gentle giants are on my mind because I received word that the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens recently announced the birth of a bouncing baby boy giraffe. Momma giraffe Zawadi and Daddy giraffe Duke watched like all exuberant parents do as their gangly calf clambered to its feet 36 minutes after birth. Well, that’s roughly 11 months earlier than I accomplished that “feet.”
As one might surmise, giraffes rank as the world’s tallest animals, reaching up to 18 feet and 1,200 to 4,000 pounds. Giraffes have been part of the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens collection since 1957, and the new spindly legged offspring figures to be, well, here I go again: a “big” attraction. Already 5’7” and 142 pounds, the calf is doing beautifully. And not coincidental to my previous mention of exuberant parents, the new giraffe’s name will be decided this weekend at the Zoo’s premier annual fundraiser, ExZOOberation.
As it were for those into animal husbandry and wifery, the gestation period for a giraffe is about 15 months. The young ‘uns spend a good deal of their first week lying down and hiding while Momma remains, er, heads up for predators such as lions that are intent on If in the Jax area or headed that way, drop by the Zoo and check out the new not-so-little feller. It’s open every day of the year from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 370 Zoo Parkway, just a half-mile east of I-95. Visit www.jacksonvillezoo.org for much more info. |
