News - Local
Two giraffes born at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Posted: Mar 26, 2010 1:01 PM by Andy Koen, Bea Karnes - News First 5
Updated: Mar 26, 2010 1:01 PM
The giraffe herd at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs is a little bit larger this week following the births of two male calves.
The half brothers were born a day apart; one on Tuesday and the other on Wednesday.
Each of the calves weighs over 150 pounds. Head Giraffe Keeper Jeremy Dillon says the babies will likely grow to between a thousand and 1,500 pounds in their first year.
"Especially since they're males, they grow pretty fast," Dillon said. "They can grow up to six inches in a month."
A third giraffe is also expecting. She's due sometime this summer.
With these latest two births, the total number of giraffes at the zoo is now 20, one of the largest populations in North America.
The elder calf was born to Muziki, an eleven-year-old female. It was her third baby born at the zoo.
The mother of the younger giraffe is eight-year-old Uzuri, her second. Both of the calves were sired by the Zoo's bull giraffe, Mawimbi.
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