Baby Giraffe Born at ZOO Planckendael Boosts Conservation
A critically endangered kordofan giraffe calf has been born at ZOO Planckendael in Mechelen, Belgium, marking a significant milestone for the European breeding program. The female calf, born to first-time mother Rohaya on June 29 at 5:18 AM, is already on display and captivating visitors on the zoo’s African savanna exhibit.
A Birth Nearly Two Meters High
Newborn giraffes stand over 1.5 meters (nearly 5 feet) tall at birth, and this calf made a dramatic entrance — falling approximately two meters during delivery, which is entirely normal for giraffes. “A giraffe birth is special because the calf falls about two meters, though the long front legs absorb a lot,” explained zookeeper Rik, as reported by Het Laatste Nieuws. “After that, such a small giraffe stands up surprisingly quickly on those high stilts.”
According to VRT NWS, the calf drank well immediately after birth and remains in good health, staying close to her mother. The zoo confirmed that the ossicones — the small horn-like structures on the calf’s head — are still soft and flat, a normal characteristic of newborns that will harden as she grows.
A First-Time Mother Who Prepared Well
Rohaya, who is described by keepers as protective and caring, had an unusual advantage for a first-time mother. When a male calf named Zabù was born to another giraffe, Valeye, nearly two years ago, Rohaya observed the process closely and later helped care for the youngster. “She’s been able to practice her new mother role a bit,” zookeeper Rik told the ZOO Planckendael press team.
Father Kinaï, who arrived at the zoo in late 2024 as a new breeding male, is also a first-time parent. The fact that both parents are producing offspring for the first time makes this birth particularly valuable for the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP), as their genetic lines are now represented in the program.
Why This Birth Matters for Conservation
The calf is a kordofan giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis antiquorum), a critically endangered subspecies facing severe threats in the wild. Native primarily to Garamba National Park in northeastern Congo — an area roughly the size of Flanders — these giraffes are under pressure from habitat loss, poaching, and regional conflict.
ZOO Planckendael has been working to secure the species’ future through a dual approach: maintaining a genetically healthy reserve population in the zoo while funding in-situ conservation projects in Africa. Since 2009, the zoo and its Antwerp Zoo Foundation have invested nearly €100,000 in water wells and other initiatives in Congo and Niger, reducing competition between humans and giraffes for scarce water resources.
“The birth of a female is particularly valuable,” the zoo noted, as more females are needed to maintain and grow the population within the European breeding program.
What’s Next: A Name with a ‘B’
Following ZOO Planckendael’s 2026 tradition, all animals born this year receive names starting with the letter ‘B’. The zookeepers have selected a shortlist of favorite names, but the final decision will be left to the public. Voting will open soon via the zoo’s Instagram Stories, as RTV reported.
Later this week, the calf will be introduced to the rest of the giraffe herd and will begin exploring the larger enclosure. For now, she remains close to her mother, who follows her every move. Zookeeper Maaike Dillen summed up the herd’s reaction simply: “They do what giraffes should do.”
A Small Step with Big Implications
While the birth of a single giraffe calf may seem like a small event, for a critically endangered subspecies with a dwindling wild population, every addition to the captive breeding program is a step toward survival. The combination of public engagement through the naming vote and the zoo’s ongoing conservation work in Africa offers a hopeful narrative — one where zoo visitors can witness conservation in action, one wobbly-legged calf at a time.
This article was compiled from reports by Het Laatste Nieuws, VRT NWS, ZOO Planckendael, and RTV.