A baby Giraffe calf at the Houston Zoo is trying out his legs not long after he was born, and his adorable clumsy run is actually impressive.
On May 1, 2024, the Instagram account for Houston Zoo shared a birth announcement for their newest Giraffe, and you need to watch it. Take a look!
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In the short Instagram video , we meet the proud mama and her new baby.
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"Meet the Zoo’s newest arrival, a baby boy Masai giraffe named Tino!" the zoo shared.
"On Saturday morning, Houston Zoo giraffe keepers arrived to find a baby giraffe!"
For the time being, Tino spends the mornings with his herd at the zoo's McGovern Giraffe Habitat to get to know them all. He will spend his afternoons alone with his mom, Kamili.
Tino "currently weighs 160 pounds and stands at an impressive six feet tall," the zoo shares. "He has been named Tino by the Gordy Family who are longtime supporters of the Zoo. As he matures, Tino could reach a height nearly matching or surpassing his 16-foot-tall father, six-year-old Zawadi."
"Oh my goodness," one fan wrote. "So excited! 10/10 baby giraffe zoomies."
"Welcome, Tino. Can’t wait to watch you grow and see what the future holds for you," another wrote. "Congratulations guys."
"So little! Welcome Tino," added another. "To think he is already running around with such long legs! I’d be so uncoordinated."
Another viewer added: "Welcome Tino! Congratulations, he is so cute."
The video shows the little Giraffe running around with his clumsy new legs. Nudged gently by his mom, the Giraffe gets the zoomies and runs on his wobbly legs.
Interesting Facts About Masai Giraffes
According to Animalia , Masai Giraffes can live up to 30 years, weigh up to 2,860 pounds, and are 18 feet tall. They're the largest of the giraffe species, and they stand out for their spots, which are "gagged and irregular," with a giant net that makes up one-third of their body height.
And this animal has a very interesting tongue. "Its long and muscular tongue, which can be up to 20 inches in length, is prehensile and allows it to grab leaves from tall trees that are inaccessible to other animals," Animalia writes.
"The tongue's darker pigment is believed to function as a natural sunscreen and prevent sunburn."
When it comes to Masai Giraffe babies , they typically only have one baby, and twins are considered rare. The reproduction season is year-round, and pregnancy for a Masai Giraffe lasts between 13 and 15 months.
"The female gives birth in a calving area, which she uses throughout her life," Animalia shares. A newborn calf can walk just an hour after birth and can run within 24 hours after birth.
According to The International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN ), Masai Giraffes are considered "endangered."
"Masai Giraffe is listed as Endangered under criterion due to an estimated decline of 49-51% over three generations (30 years)," the IUCN Red List explains.
"Combined estimates for Kenya and Tanzania at the beginning of these time series are 69,000-71,000 and for the most recent estimates 35,000. Probable causes of the decline are habitat loss and illegal hunting."
Welcome to the world Tino!
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