Nashville Zoo giraffe Margarita gave birth to a female calf on Sunday, June 10, at approximately 6 a.m. Mother and calf are doing well and are currently off exhibit. Zoo officials plan to carefully monitor her development and will make a decision on her public debut in the coming weeks.

“We’ve been watching Margarita very closely in anticipation of this event,” said Mammal Curator Connie Philipp. “This is her second calf, and she is showing us some great maternal skills. We look forward to showing the new calf to our guests soon.”

At four days old, the baby giraffe stands 6 feet, 2 inches tall and weighs about 160 pounds.  With the addition of the calf, Nashville Zoo is now home to three Masai giraffe and one reticulated giraffe. Margarita’s first calf (Suzasita) was born on November 3, 2010 and was later sent to The Wilds in Ohio to be introduced to her new herd. Masai giraffe are native to the savannas of Kenya and Tanzania in Africa and are known for their oak-leaf shaped spot pattern.

Nashville Zoo’s 1.5 acre Giraffe Savannah opened in April 2006 thanks to contributions from philanthropist Mrs. Maggi Margaret Turner, the Vandewater family and hundreds of supporters who contributed to the Zoo’s “Stick Your Neck Out” campaign.

Nashville Zoo is accredited by the prestigious Association of Zoos and Aquariums, assuring the highest standards of animal care and husbandry.  Attracting more than 640,000 visitors annually, the Zoo is considered one of the top things to do in Nashville. The Zoo is a non-profit organization located at 3777 Nolensville Pike and is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.  The mission of Nashville Zoo is to inspire a culture of understanding and discovery of our natural world through conservation, innovation and leadership.  For more information about Nashville Zoo, call 615-833-1534 or visit www.nashvillezoo.org.