San Diego Zoo Shares Sweetest Facts About Their Baby Giraffe
Do you enjoy visiting the zoo? I love going to the zoo, and San Diego Zoo in California is one of my favorites! A couple of years ago, they welcomed Msituni, or Tuni for short, a new baby giraffe into their family. She's grown quite a bit over the last years, and they shared a video on Friday, January 2nd with some facts about her that you may not know...I know I didn't!
They shared these facts because it's her birthday and it's a fun way to celebrate it with fans! From being born with unstable joints and needing to wear braces to what her name means and who her bestie is, it's a cute video that shares more about her life at the zoo.
Tuni really seems to be a ham and likes being in front of the camera! I love her nickname, Looney Tuni, which is adorable! I've seen her in other TikToks but didn't realize that she was the giraffe that needed braces as a baby. What an amazing recovery made possible by @San Diego Zoo's excellent care! Commenters didn't have much to say about the video, which I was surprised by because Tuni is so cute - I'd love to see her with her bestie!
Related: Older Giraffe’s Kind Gesture Toward Baby Giraffe Is Melting Hearts
Baby Giraffe Facts
More than likely, Tuni will stay at the zoo and live with her herd for the rest of her life. That's a good thing because San Diego Zoo is one of the best known and most well-respected zoos in the country. I realized that while I love seeing all of the babies that we are introduced to, I don't know much about baby giraffes. So, I did some research to see what I could find.
The first one about their birth was interesting - baby giraffes are born with their eyes open and come out feet first. And while they look like miniatures copies of mom, their horns, called "ossicones" don't stick up while they are born, they are folded flat against their head; it takes a few hours for them to stand up straight.
Within an hour or so after being born, the baby (called a calf) is ready to take its first steps. And not only does it walk, but it can run soon after!
The baby will double its size within the first year...talk about growing up quickly! Even though they are "big" babies, they'll still nurse from mom for 9-12 months. In the wild they'll stay with mom for up to their first two years. Females will return to visit mom and the herd, while males set off on their own.
I wish I still lived in California so I could visit Tuni! If you're a fan of zoo animals, make sure to follow San Diego Zoo's account - they are always sharing fun videos about the animals that live there!
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