Two more youngsters on the way
Giraffe Kamala and Zuri are also pregnant. Kamala was originally expected to give birth first, but Safiya beat her to it. Zuri’s due date is later and is expected to give birth in February. “We are extremely happy that the first birth went smoothly and we look forward to the next two births. The caregivers and veterinarians closely monitor the pregnant giraffes and make all preparations to ensure that the coming births take place in optimal conditions,” says Pieter Vercruyss, curator of Bellewaerde.
Good news for the endangered species
The Rothschild giraffe is highly endangered. Only 1,400 remain in the wild and 429 live in zoos (which are members of EAZA). This makes them a rare species and every birth is of great importance for the conservation of the animal. The pregnancies in Bellewaerde Park are the result of great efforts to conserve the endangered species.