Tuli (Masai Giraffe) is noticeably pregnant. It is unknown when the calf is expected
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Cleveland Metroparks Zoo News 2025
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Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
Tuli gave birth to a male calf on August 15th, unfortunately, this calf (sired by Rocket from Toledo), as was her last calf, is a Masai/generic hybrid calf, which has 100% wasted several years in her reproductive life in adding value to the pure-Masai population.
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Welcomes Giraffe Calf
That seems rather harsh to say the least.
Frankie_number_1_fan
Well-Known Member
In all fairness, it is a correct observation. Hybrid calves (and moreover male calves to boot) typically do not actively participate in either species' breeding program and are destined to sit as display animals. Not to mention that breeding hybrid animals has little to no conservation or captive population-building purpose, which does absolutely waste reproductive potential that could've gone to producing more calves for a single species. This is especially true in regards to the Masai, which is currently the only pure species population held in US zoos. We really need every pure calf we can get in that regard.
And I'm saying that people act like these calves are monsters and should be put down because they're hybrids. People were acting the same way when Franklin was born at Toledo.
I think this could be said to be a bit exaggerated as well. People can express their disappointment and frustration with the Zoo’s irresponsible management of these animals — wasting two whole calves and over four years of an animal’s reproductive lifespan on hybrid offspring of a species that needs more calves on the ground is extremely irresponsible — without that being a commentary on the animals themselves. Of course it is not the animals’s fault that they exists, but is very unfortunate in the grand scheme of the Masai giraffe population that these two hybrid calves exist.
I still think it's way to harsh and unfair to the keepers and vets who've watched these animals. Also, I don't care about genetic purity and honestly think it's overrated. The average guest isn't going to know the difference.
The criticism of the production of these calves also isn’t a reflection of the keeper staff, necessarily, but rather of the staff in the Zoo’s management that has allowed for them to be produced, as those decisions are usually made well above the level of most keepers. I, myself, am a keeper, and I know that if the facility I work for was so nonchalantly allowing for the production of hybrid offspring from valuable purebred animals, I would be very upset, but that would not change the care I provide for those animals and I know it would not reflect on my own abilities to do my job.
If zoos are to serve as facilities for conservation, then you cannot so quickly brush the important of genetic purity under the rug without calling into question this foundation of the purpose of a modern zoo — even if these animals or their descendants will still never see the wild. It does not matter if the average guest will not know the difference because the purpose of these animals being in zoos is beyond just being visible for guests to see.
Polar bear fan
Well-Known Member
Woah woah woah, I guess it needs to be stated that Tuli was on birth control during the conception of both calves. Giraffe birth control is notoriously unreliable, and there was no intention of her producing a calf with a generic male. These accident calves just happened before she could be transferred, with the first one delaying her transfer and the second one being conceived during the delay.
I imagined that was likely the case, but that is still irresponsible management in my opinion. I have worked with many giraffe over many years, and yes, birth control in giraffe is certainly not always reliable and there are risks of permanent sterilization. With both of those being well known to be potential problems, other solutions really should have been determined — especially after the birth control failed the first time.
As with many things, the truth's probably somewhere in the middle.
Cleveland's keepers are among the best in the business if you consider how long-lived so many of their animals are. As I'm sure many of us know, they do not make breeding decisions.
That being said, I've had a morbid curiosity with the ups and downs of giraffes at CMZ. They used to have a vibrant herd and an incredibly successful breeding program that seems to have been in decline for the last decade. I'm sure everyone's doing their best, but it certainly seems like something changed.
In my most cynical opinion, someone probably raised concerns about birthing a healthy hybrid calf. BUT . . . it's a baby. Everybody loves babies, and if there were a chance for a healthy giraffe calf, the admins would've encouraged it by any means necessary. Babies mean tickets and visits.
It reminds me of something I heard many years ago when Brian Zimmerman took over as CEO of the Cleveland Metroparks. He adamantly wanted to breed the elephants despite all of them being too old by the time he started.
His reasoning? Baby elephants are the biggest babies when it comes to marketing and attendance - and he's not wrong, but biology trumped business in that case.
And "accidents" happen. I know of at least one Cleveland giraffe calf that was the result of a happy accident when a past-her-prime female was briefly put in the same enclosure as a young male. Nobody expected a calf, but one was born, nonetheless.
Cleveland's keepers are among the best in the business if you consider how long-lived so many of their animals are. As I'm sure many of us know, they do not make breeding decisions.
That being said, I've had a morbid curiosity with the ups and downs of giraffes at CMZ. They used to have a vibrant herd and an incredibly successful breeding program that seems to have been in decline for the last decade. I'm sure everyone's doing their best, but it certainly seems like something changed.
In my most cynical opinion, someone probably raised concerns about birthing a healthy hybrid calf. BUT . . . it's a baby. Everybody loves babies, and if there were a chance for a healthy giraffe calf, the admins would've encouraged it by any means necessary. Babies mean tickets and visits.
It reminds me of something I heard many years ago when Brian Zimmerman took over as CEO of the Cleveland Metroparks. He adamantly wanted to breed the elephants despite all of them being too old by the time he started.
His reasoning? Baby elephants are the biggest babies when it comes to marketing and attendance - and he's not wrong, but biology trumped business in that case.
And "accidents" happen. I know of at least one Cleveland giraffe calf that was the result of a happy accident when a past-her-prime female was briefly put in the same enclosure as a young male. Nobody expected a calf, but one was born, nonetheless.
Frankie_number_1_fan
Well-Known Member
This calf was conceived in Toledo, so in any case this isn't a reflection of Cleveland's management. Tuli arrived already pregnant.
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Not to mention - Tulli is a relatively valuable animal. Her father Mowgli was among one of NA's most highly ranked males.
The male should have been managed separately from unintended mates before the first time, and most definitely afterwards. To have 2 woopsies in 2 years is poor management of giraffe.
The male should have been managed separately from unintended mates before the first time, and most definitely afterwards. To have 2 woopsies in 2 years is poor management of giraffe.
Considering the fact that the announcement dropped today that the taxonomic split of giraffes into four species - which has been in the works for many years now - has been officially adopted by the IUCN, the importance of keeping captive populations has been underlined.
Four giraffe species officially recognised in major conservation reclassification – IUCN report
Officially speaking, the hybrid giraffes in question are now of similar status and value to any other cross-species hybrid such as a liger or a mule.... which is to say, none.
Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
The newborn giraffe calf will make his public debut today. Naming options for a donation naming vote are
- Zane (means 'noble')
- Malik (means 'king')
- Albert (a reference to Lake Albert, located in Uganda Newborn giraffe to make debut at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo | wkyc.com
It was revealed in Zoo Tours' new video that 0.1 Asian Small Clawed Otter Munti has moved to Cincinnati for their new Otter exhibit.
The zoo has announced on Facebook that the giraffe calf has been named Zane.
