Giraffe Calf Born at Zoo
For immediate release: July 12, 2011

Contact:
Melinda Arnold, Public Relations Director
417-833-1570 (office)
marnold[at]dickersonparkzoo.org

Springfield, Mo. - A male giraffe was born this afternoon a little after 1:30 p.m., at Dickerson Park Zoo. The mother, Kamili, will be 12 years old in August; this is her sixth calf. Kamili gave birth in the zoo's exhibit yard while curious zoo guests and watchful zookeepers observed.

The opportunity for the public to participate in naming the calf will be announced tomorrow on the zoo's Web page and Facebook page.

Kamili was born at Utah's Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City in August 1999. She came to Dickerson Park Zoo when she was 14 months old. The calf was sired by the zoo's long-time breeding male, Stretch; Stretch died last December. A giraffe's gestation is between 14 and 15 months.

Guests can view Kamili and her calf in the exhibit yard along with Gidget and Billie, a 17-month-old female. Three giraffes are in an adjacent yard.

Dickerson Park Zoo is open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. through the end of September, including summer holidays. For more information, visit the zoo online at www.dickersonparkzoo.org, or call the zoo's information hotline, 417-864-1800.

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Dickerson Park Zoo is a division of the Springfield-Greene County Park Board and is accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA).With its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation and your link to helping animals in their native habitats.