Over the weekend, the Houston Zoo witnessed a towering new addition to their family – a baby giraffe named Tino born to the proud parent, Kamili, the nine-year-old Masai giraffe. Details of the event were shared by the Houston Chronicle, revealing that keepers walked in Saturday morning to the 160-pound, six-foot-tall baby giraffe that had just joined the zoo’s herd. Tino’s entry into the world was somewhat of a surprise despite the zoo staff knowing his mother was pregnant, the exact timing of his birth remained elusive.
Named by the Gordy family, who have a history of supporting the zoo, Tino carries a namesake that hails from Africa – an homage to a person who significantly impacted their lives. According to information provided by the zoo, the birth of Tino not only adds to the family tree with Kamili and his father, Zawadi, but it also fortifies the zoo's commitment to conserving wildlife. In a statement to the Houston Zoo’s official blog, it was noted that visitors contribute to this cause, with a portion of every admission going to conservation efforts that support the species in their natural habitats.
The zoo staff were on high alert for the birth, monitoring Kamili closely even when the zoo’s size made it tough to detect movements with an ultrasound. "We definitely knew she was close," Wren Baker from the Houston Zoo told the Houston Chronicle. They kept a keen eye on camera feedback and, indeed, Tino's arrival was a welcome start to the day for the dedicated keepers.
The Masai giraffe, classed as an endangered subspecies, has seen its numbers fallen by more than half in recent decades due to threats like poaching and habitat loss. The Houston Zoo hasn't taken these challenges lightly, they've been putting their money where their mouth is by supporting giraffe protection programs in Kenya. This funding goes towards everything from ranger salaries and poacher arrests to medical assistance for giraffes accidentally caught in illegal wire traps – cementing the zoo’s position not just as an exhibitor of animals but as an active participant in global conservation efforts.
Little Tino has already made his public debut and continues to dazzle visitors with his towering presence, just like his 16-foot-tall father Zawadi whom he might someday match or surpass in height according to zoo predictions. Guests eager to catch a glimpse of the zoo’s newest star can find Tino with the herd in the mornings at the McGovern Giraffe Habitat and bonding with his mother, Kamili, behind the scenes in the afternoons.
