With the arrival of a young male named “Big Mac” the Zoo’s giraffe herd has gone from two members to five in the past year.
BALTIMORE, MD – And then there were five. The Maryland Zoo has added a reticulated giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) to its herd, which has grown from two members to five since this time last year.
The new giraffe is a one and a half year-old male named “Big Mac” who arrived on November 10 thanks to a recommendation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan© (SSP).
Big Mac is finishing his quarantine and introductions to other members of the giraffe herd this week and will be ready to meet the public starting Monday, December 22, when the Zoo’s Giraffe House will be open Friday through Monday to guests from 10:30 am – 4 pm.
Big Mac’s arrival is part of a multi-year effort to increase the size and diversity of Maryland Zoo’s giraffe population.
“Over the past year, we’ve been welcoming the next generation of reticulated giraffe to Maryland Zoo,” said Erin Cantwell-Grimm, Mammal Curator at Maryland Zoo. “Kipipeo [ke-peh-PAY-oh], a female, joined us last fall and had a female calf, Titali [teh-TALL-ee], in the spring. And, now we’re pleased to welcome Big Mac.”
“Coming to a new place and meeting new animals can be a slow process for a young giraffe,” Cantwell-Grimm said. “As we would expect, Big Mac is cautious as he takes in all the information about his surroundings but he seems to be adjusting quite well.”
Guests will be able to easily spot Big Mac. He’s already 10.5 feet tall and still growing with an airplane-shaped spot pattern on the lower right side of his long neck and markings that look like lightning bolts in the center of his ears.
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