Friday, October 23, 2009

Camera Critters

It's Saturday so it must be Camera Critters time!

It's back to the Houston Zoo and Photography morning.

These are photos of the zoo's newest Masai Giraffe,
Hasante
(Handsome).



The Houston Zoos Masai giraffe herd has grown to 7 with the addition of a bouncing baby boy. The calf was born to mom Tyra shortly after 8 a.m. on Monday, August 10. Tyra went into labor around 6 in the morning and the calf was standing and nursing by 9 a.m. Tyra always delivers big babies but this big boy stands a bit over 6 feet tall. Tyra is 11 years old. Kiva, the father is 13 years old.


While Masai giraffes are not threatened or endangered in their native habitat, there are only 88 of them in North American zoos. Giraffe breeding at the Houston Zoo follows guidelines established by the American Zoo and Aquarium Associations Population Management Plan (PMP) program. PMPs have been developed for selected groups of animals to manage breeding of captive populations in order to maintain healthy, self-sustaining populations that are both genetically diverse and demographically stable.



Giraffes are the tallest living terrestrial animal. When full grown, this little guy will be about 17 feet tall and can weigh in at 3,000 pounds, while an average female is over 14 feet tall. Cute little fella! He posed for us for a very long time.

I've included the You Tube video of this little gentleman's birth. If you are squeamish, don't watch!


17 comments:

eileeninmd said...

Hasante is handsome. I love Giraffes.
Great photos and thanks for the link for You tube.

Maria-Thérèse ~ www.afiori.com said...

A bouncing giraffe? Wowza! :-O

Cezar and Léia said...

This masai giraffe is beautiful!!I've never met one of this beautiful critters in person, she is huge!
Happy Camera Critters
purrs and love
your friend
Luna ( We love Luna )

Diane AZ said...

Beautiful pictures of the new 6' baby boy giraffe. Cool video, amazing it can stand up and walk right away.

♥♥ Willa ♥♥ said...

He is handosme indeed!

Thanks for visiting my entry .

Barb said...

Why do giraffes always look coy? Is it the enormous eyes with the beautiful fringed lashes? We have a baby giraffe at the Denver Zoo, too.

Crafty Christina said...

He is very handsome! I love giraffes too. There is something about them that seems so poised.

JD and Max said...

Awww, so handsome - we want one, he he he! Lovely photos - giraffes have such an aura of peace about them. Schnauzer snuggles, JD and Max.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Snap: Fun photos from the zoo, you captured the little one nicely. Thanks for sharing the video.

Carletta said...

They aren't very little even when they're little are they!!!
Cute shots!

Lilli & Nevada said...

The are so graceful and yet so clumsy looking,Beautiful photos or a beautiful animal

sweetbay said...

They are amazing and yet such improbable-looking creatures! I love the pattern on their coats.

storyteller said...

Oh my ... how MARVELOUS ;--)
Thanks so much for sharing these wonderful photos and the video too. I love giraffes and can't get enough of them ... seriously!
Hugs and blessings,

Susan Cook said...

What a cute little Giraffe. That's awesome that they are expanding the Giraffes at the zoo.

Corner Gardener Sue said...

Giraffes are amazing creatures. I enjoyed your photos and the story of this group of them.

Sue from A Corner Garden

Unknown said...

He's adorable! Such a sweetheart!

Janie said...

What a beauty. That video is just amazing!