North American Masai Giraffe Population

Tulli at Cleveland is noticeably pregnant. I'm not sure when she's expected to have the calf.
Tuli gave birth to a male calf on August 15th, however, unfortunately, the sire is Rocket from Toledo, making this calf a Masai/generic hybrid calf from Tuli, as was her last calf in 2023, which her two recent calves which has 100% wasted several years in her reproductive life in adding value to the pure-Masai population.
https://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/news-press/2025/cleveland-metroparks-zoo-welcomes-giraffe-calf
 
Tuli gave birth to a male calf on August 15th, however, unfortunately, the sire is Rocket from Toledo, making this calf a Masai/generic hybrid calf from Tuli, as was her last calf in 2023, which her two recent calves which has 100% wasted several years in her reproductive life in adding value to the pure-Masai population.
https://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/news-press/2025/cleveland-metroparks-zoo-welcomes-giraffe-calf
How does an accident like this happen twice? Surely this was unintentional as Tuli was brought Cleveland to breed with Rocket (not to be confused with Rocket at Toledo).
 
How does an accident like this happen twice? Surely this was unintentional as Tuli was brought Cleveland to breed with Rocket (not to be confused with Rocket at Toledo).
Agreed, I feel like we should’ve learned from the last accident… hopefully she and Rocket 2.0 can still get a few calves on the ground. We certainly know she’s fertile though, so I have no doubt she’ll get pregnant in the next few months if she and rocket are given consistent access to one another.
 
The Wilds on Instagram: "At The Wilds, we’re celebrating the arrival of fall with two more exciting new arrivals: a Przewalski’s horse foal and a Masai giraffe calf! The Przewalski’s horse foal was born on August 9, 2025 to first-time mother Paisley and father, Maksim. Paisley was born at @sdzsafaripark in 2013 and arrived at The Wilds from the @mnzoo in 2023. Maksim, born in 2017 at the @mnzoo, came to The Wilds in 2024 from the @smithsonianzoo in Front Royal, Virginia based on a recommendation from the @zoos_aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan® (SSP). This birth carries special meaning for The Wilds, as the Przewalski’s horse was the very first species brought to the conservation center in 1992, before opening to the public for tours in 1994. The new foal is the 26th surviving Przewalski’s horse born at The Wilds and the first since 2015. On August 27, 2025, The Wilds also welcomed a Masai giraffe calf to mother, Lulu, and father, Raha. Lulu, born at the @cincinnatizoo in 2012, has lived at The Wilds since 2014, and this marks her fourth calf. Raha, born at the @lazoo in 2006, arrived from @pghzoo in 2009 and has now sired 13 calves at The Wilds. This pairing was also an SSP recommendation, and the calf’s birth represents an important step forward for the conservation of Masai giraffes. Together with the Przewalski’s horse foal, these births highlight The Wilds’ role in protecting species for future generations. Guests visiting The Wilds can learn more about these important species while supporting global conservation efforts. While the giraffe calf, Lulu, and Raha are spending time in the barn for extra warmth as temperatures drop overnight, they may be seen in the Giraffe Barn during Wildside Safari Tours. The Przewalski’s horses—including Paisley, her foal, and other members of the herd—are well adapted to cooler temperatures like those of their native range and may be seen out in pasture during an Open-Air Safari. Join us in celebrating these exciting additions!"

0.0.1 Masai giraffe calf was born to Lulu and Raha at The Wilds, marking their 4th calf together.
 
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