MILWAUKEE COUNTY

Milwaukee County Zoo's newest resident, a baby giraffe, is 6 feet, 1 inch of adorableness

Meg Jones
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The Milwaukee County Zoo's newest resident scampered about like a skittish colt Tuesday afternoon in front of smartphones held high to capture all 6 feet, 1 inch of adorableness.

A newborn female giraffe stands inside the giraffe exhibit at the Milwaukee County Zoo. The calf was born weighing 174 pounds and stands 6 feet 1 inch tall.

Born last week to mother Marlee and father Bahatika, the as-yet-unnamed baby giraffe was on public display for the first time Tuesday and is expected to begin heading outside next week.

She is the fourth giraffe calf born in the last four years, bringing the number of horned, patchwork-quilt-patterned, even-toed ungulates to half a dozen at the zoo. 

The giraffe was born shortly before 6 p.m. May 15 and stood up within 49 minutes, said Tim Wild, curator of large mammals. She began nursing within 2 hours and 20 minutes. She weighed in at a healthy 174 pounds.

Wild witnessed her birth. Though the drop was around 6 feet, it wasn't traumatic for the baby. It's imperative giraffes stand up quickly after birth so they can nurse.

"By the time the baby falls out, her front feet were almost to the ground. It's almost a soft landing," said Wild.

Marlee, a six year old giraffe, nestles her newborn calf inside the giraffe exhibit at the Milwaukee County Zoo.

In the wild, giraffes typically go off into woods to give birth and provide cover from predators such as lions, hyenas and leopards. But this baby didn't have to worry about that.

Long-necked with eyelashes to die for just like her parents, the baby giraffe had her umbilical cord still attached Tuesday. She'll nurse from her mother for several months and most likely begin nibbling hay and grain within a few weeks before switching over to solid food three or four months from now.

She was the biggest of the four giraffe calves born at the zoo and appears to be more graceful, settling into her legs and feet quicker than the others. Her pattern is lighter in color than Marlee's last calf.

Wild said she'll likely grow a couple of inches each month and gain a couple of pounds each day.

Marlee, 6 years old, was born at Zoo Miami and came to Milwaukee in 2013, a year after the other adult female giraffe, 7-year-old Ziggy, who was born at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Marlee has now had two girls while Ziggy has given birth to two boys.

"Marlee is a good mother, very attentive. She's the calmer of the two moms here," said Wild. "We brought these two adult females here for this purpose. It's exciting."

Zookeepers will name her once they get to know the baby giraffe. And she'll stay at the Milwaukee Zoo - there are no plans to ship her to another zoo once she grows up.

The zoo's indoor giraffe exhibit will be open for limited hours starting at 10 a.m. Wednesday and probably increase as the calf and her mom become more comfortable with visitors.