Masai Giraffe Calf Born At San Diego Safari Park

ESCONDIDO, CA — The San Diego Zoo Safari Park has welcomed a Masai giraffe calf.

The calf was born April 23 to mother Mara and father Gowon at the Escondido-based park. The male calf, who has not yet been named, is bonding with his mom in the zoo's South Africa habitat.

"The calf's arrival helps support the genetic diversity of Masai giraffes and ensures their global population remains strong and healthy," zoo officials said in a news release.

Masai giraffes are classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. According to the zoo, Masai giraffes have very few natural predators, but their populations have decreased in native habitat by 30% over the past 35 years due to challenges with human-wildlife coexistence, including unsustainable loss of habitat.

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, a nonprofit conservation organization that operates the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, supports Masai giraffe populations by being an active member of the Masai Giraffe Species Survival Plan Program and working to protect the natural habitat of giraffes through the Savanna Conservation Hub.