Spring Brings Second Rare Giraffe Birth of the Year at Lion Country Safari

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - March 27, 2013 - PRLog -- Check out our video on You Tube at http://youtu.be/gHssokbygbQ

West Palm Beach, FL – Lion Country Safari, a leader in giraffe breeding programs in North America with over 65 giraffe births, just welcomed its second giraffe calf of 2013. The baby, named Willow, was born March 22. The exceptionally tall 6-foot 3-inch female calf was born overnight and weighed 174 pounds.  

Willow and her mom, both Rothschild giraffe, are segregated from the herd in the maternity pen to allow bonding time.  They are visible in the drive-through preserve (section 7, Hwange National Park) or from the giraffe feeding exhibit at Lion Country Safari.  In nearly three months, they will join the remainder of the giraffe herd at Lion Country Safari.

Female giraffe reproduce year-round beginning at about four years of age. Their conception peak is usually during the rainy season and their gestation lasts approximately fifteen months. Giraffe calves are born while the mother is in a standing position and they drop to the ground head first. Life expectancy of a giraffe is twenty-five years.

Lion Country Safari is dedicated to the captive breeding of a number of rare or endangered species and is proud to participate in the American Zoo and Aquarium Association’s (AZA) Species Survival plan. This conservation program helps to ensure the survival of selected wildlife species.

LION COUNTRY SAFARI IS LOCATED 15.5 MILES WEST OF I-95 OFF SOUTHERN BOULEVARD. OPEN DAILY 561-793-1084 OR VISIT US ON THE WEB AT WWW.LIONCOUNTRYSAFARI.COM