Imagine the sense of childish wonder that comes with witnessing the birth of an endangered or exotic animal, making a guided safari adventure feel like you’ve stepped into a Discovery Channel episode, LIVE! Truly, this is wildlife conservation taking place in real time.
Mother Nature knows best, and with new babies joining several of the more than thirty species that roam Global Wildlife’s free-ranging environment, the animals exhibit strong maternal instincts and distinctive evolutionary traits. Reticulated giraffes, for instance, give birth standing up, which means that the newborn baby, called a calf, has a drop of six feet to the ground.
“Watching the maternal-neonate bond in action is quite a privilege as well as a humbling experience.”
Dr. Kanyon McLean, Director of Animal Programs and staff veterinarian.
Mother giraffes like Kya, who gave birth to her second baby in August, are extremely protective of their young, and have been known to kill a predator like a lion with one kick. This instinct serves them well in the wild, where 50% of young giraffes perish during the first year of life. Dr. Kanyon McLean, Director of Animal Programs and Global Wildlife’s staff veterinarian, welcomed two baby giraffes this autumn, with one of them, affectionately named “Frannie,” born the day before Hurricane Francine. Frannie is a fourth generation of baby giraffe born at Global Wildlife Center; her great-grandmother is Kameel, the matriarch of the giraffe family and the first baby giraffe born at Global Wildlife. “Fortunately,” Dr. Kanyon observes, “we have several females with excellent maternal instincts. Our beautiful girls, Kya and Sara, recently gave birth, and they are very protective of their babies!”
Global Wildlife Center welcomes their newest addition, Frannie, a baby reticulated giraffe.
As unique as human fingerprints, no two Grant’s zebras have the same striping pattern. A group of zebras is called a dazzle, and with good reason. When they huddle together it’s difficult for predators to pick out an individual zebra to prey upon. Prior to giving birth, mother zebras will separate themselves from the herd. After the foal is born, mom and baby will study each other for hours, memorizing each other’s striping pattern and imprinting vocalizations and scents. This defense mechanism helps mom and foal to reunite quickly if they are separated during a chase. The Grant’s zebra herd has grown by two this autumn, and watching the new foals follow their mom, prancing around on spindly little legs, is sure to bring smiles of delight.
At Global Wildlife’s Visitor Center, a trio of new peachicks religiously follow their mother, Pearl the Indian blue peahen, who is teaching them how to forage for insects and other foods. Pearl faithfully sat on a nest she built on the ground in the Kangaroo Walkabout, and this is her first clutch of chicks to hatch. Pearl communicates with her babies using clucks and calls, encouraging them not to wander far from her protective gaze. Sharp-eyed guests might catch a glimpse of them when they visit!
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Reticulated giraffes give birth standing up, dropping their calf six feet to the ground.
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Safari tours allow visitors to interact with various exotic and endangered animals.
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Mother Grant's zebras identify their babies by memorizing their stripe patterns, which are as unique as a human's fingerprints.
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Fallow deer can be seen frolicking about the 900-acre preserve.
Start planning your visit at https://globalwildlife.com/tours-events/
“Watching the maternal-neonate bond in action is quite a privilege as well as a humbling experience.” Dr. Kanyon McLean, Director of Animal Programs and staff veterinarian.
