Endangered Reticulated giraffe Born at Zoo Overloon
November 02, 2023
Overloon, November 2, 2023 - A reticulated giraffe was born in ZooParc this week. It is the first giraffe ever born in the zoo in Overloon.
The reticulated giraffe is found in lightly vegetated savannas and grasslands south of the Sahara, including North Kenya, Somalia, and South Ethiopia. This species is threatened because its habitat is shrinking, primarily due to deforestation. Additionally, reticulated giraffes are hunted.
That's why there is a European management program for this species. Zoos contribute to a healthy reserve population. The birth of the calf in ZooParc is part of this program.
Conservation
ZooParc is delighted with the arrival of the female. "We consider it very important to contribute to the conservation of this species. We have had giraffes in the park for 6.5 years now, so it's great that it has finally happened," says animal keeper Koen Peters.
General manager Roel Huibers adds, "The animals in our park are ambassadors for their counterparts in Africa. We hope that visitors not only enjoy these beautiful animals but also, through the information we provide, become more aware of the consequences of human actions on nature and animals."
Four Species
There are four species of giraffes, with different subspecies. In addition to the reticulated giraffe, there are the Northern Giraffe, Southern Giraffe, and Masai Giraffe.
ZooParc supports the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) through the Wildlife Foundation, the only organization in the world that focuses entirely on the protection, conservation, and management of giraffes in the wild throughout Africa.
Exciting
The calf was born on Tuesday, October 31. It is not only the first offspring in ZooParc, but also the first time for mother Limber and father Kay to have a young one. That's why it was a bit tense in the past few days. Peters says, "It's always a wait-and-see how the mother handles it. But the young one is nursing well, and the mother is very protective, so it looks good."
To give the group some peace, the calf will stay in the stable with her mother for a while. If everything goes well, visitors can take a guided tour of the giraffe stable daily from Monday, November 6, between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM.
Photos by ZooParc Overloon.