Keystone Safari celebrates birth of new giraffe calf
A female giraffe calf was born Friday morning at Keystone Safari.
The Grove City safari announced Saturday morning that famous local giraffes Levi and Blue Jeans welcomed the calf at 6 foot, 3 inches tall and 164 pounds — on the “large side” — at about 8 a.m. Friday.
“Giraffe births are a rare occurrence which has not happened in our area for close to 2 years,” a news release from Keystone Safari said.
Labor was reported in the barn where the giraffes stay overnight at around 7 a.m. About an hour later, the calf had made its debut.
There were no complications with the birth, but because the calf landed in an awkward position, safari director Adam Guiher and senior zookeepers intervened briefly to untangle the calf. Blue Jeans, the mother, then began bonding with the baby, the safari said.
By 9:30 a.m., the calf was steady on her feet; and around 1 p.m., she started to nurse.
Around 3 p.m., Zoo veterinarian Dr. Jonathan Bergmann, Guiher and senior staff members gave the calf her first exam, and reported the giraffe has “good breathing and heartbeat.”
The calf will have a hands-on exam and further blood analysis at 24 to 48 hours old.
Assuming the calf remains in healthy condition, Keystone Safari will hold a naming contest for its new arrival.
“We will be looking for suggestions and we plan to announce a giveaway to reward the name we pick,” Guiher said.
The contest would be held via the safari’s Facebook page.
“We just want a special name for this special baby,” Guiher said.
Beginning Saturday, the calf had access to the public area of the giraffe barn, but the calf and its mother will be able to access private stalls, as needed.
The news release said there is “no guarantee the calf will be viewable as it will be up to mom and baby to determine what is best for them.”
“Blue Jeans is a great mother, but she does enjoy greeting guests as well, so we anticipate a lot of good opportunities to see the calf,” the release said.
According to Keystone Safari, Levi and Blue Jeans’ first calf followed the birth of the world’s most famous giraffe, Tajiri. Friday’s arrival is their third birth and follows “what is likely the world’s second most famous giraffe,” the safari said, explaining that a pattern-less female was recently born at Bright’s Zoo in Tennessee.
“There’s a reason our logo at the safari is a keystone with a giraffe inside of it. If it wasn’t for these giraffes, there would be no Keystone Safari,” Guiher said.
The safari has a walk-thru area, a truck tour option, a drive-thru area and a zip-line park. Over 220 animals of 72 species reside at the family-owned, state and federally licensed zoological park.
Keystone Safari is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, weather permitting, through the end of September. Beginning in October, the safari will be open Friday and Saturdays, and other select days, through the end of the year.
