BOSTON (WHDH) - A female giraffe calf born on July 24 at Franklin Park Zoo was returned to the zoo after being treated for medical complications at Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University.
“We are very encouraged by the calf’s progress and are glad she is back home,” said Dr. Eric Baitchman, Director of Animal Health and Conservation Medicine at Zoo New England. “Even though she continues to require supportive veterinary care for a touch of pneumonia and time to improve her physical coordination, we are optimistic for a good prognosis.”
The calf was having difficulty getting up and standing after she was born, and she was not able to nurse from her mother, Jana. After several attempts throughout the day to get the calf to stand and nurse, the decision was made to transport her to the Hospital for Large Animals at Cummings Veterinary Medical Center for more specialized care.
Franklin Park Zoo said caring for the calf will require around the clock dedicated attention, coordination and teamwork by the zoo’s skilled animal management and veterinary teams. It is anticipated that she will be bottle fed until she is weaned at around six to eight months.
While currently she is not in the same stall as her mother Jana, they are near each other and can see, hear and sniff each other.
“She captures your heart the moment you see her and she will be a powerful ambassador for her kind in the wild,” John Linehan, President and CEO of Zoo New England said. “With few people noticing, giraffe populations in the wild have plummeted by a frightening 40% in just the past 15 years.”
Zoo New England is inviting the public to help select a name for this special “little” calf. To vote, visit http://ow.ly/ZpvN302VKaC.
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