A new baby giraffe named Safari at African Lion Safari near Cambridge, Ont., is the first in Canada to have been born using artificial insemination. Safari, a female Rothschild giraffe, was born after 470 days gestation. weighing 60kg, and 175cm tall
Photo Credit: African Lion Safari-Handout

It’s a first for Canada, and it’s a girl!

They are still ecstactic at the animal park known as African Lion Safari in Cambridge southern Ontario, about 100 kilometres west of Toronto.

They are announcing the successful birth of the first artificially inseminated giraffe in Canada.

Although the baby giraffe, named “Safari” was born on Dec 31, the park has kept the news quiet until now in order to let the baby get settled and to coincide with the park’s annual opening for summer.

The animal is a “Rothchild’s giraffe”, one of the most endangered subspecies of giraffe.

The park partnered with scientists at the University of Guelph and the German company Geolife over nine years of research into reproductive technology, which led to Safari’s birth.

The hope is that the successful technology will be shared with other conservation organizations to help breed other Rothchild’s giraffes and release them into the wild.

There are only an estimated 1,100 in the wild.

Jason Pootoolal, giraffe and hoof supervisor at African Lion Safari says, the young giraffe is adapting well to her surroundings.and is approaching the other animals to  get a better look at them  “Giraffes are a very curious animal” he says.” and all baby animals are naturally curious, but this giraffe is particularly curious.”

Categories: Environment & Animal Life, International
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