Brevard Zoo has more exciting baby news to share, announcing that 3-year-old Masai giraffe Tisa is pregnant and expecting her first calf. (Brevard Zoo Image)
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Brevard Zoo has more exciting baby news to share, announcing that 3-year-old Masai giraffe Tisa is pregnant and expecting her first calf.
The announcement marks the second giraffe pregnancy revealed by the Zoo this year. In January, officials shared that 12-year-old giraffe Kumi is also expecting and has now entered her birthing window.
With giraffe pregnancies lasting approximately 13 to 15 months, predicting an exact due date is difficult. Zoo officials say both pregnancies are progressing well, and Tisa is receiving close care from the Zoo’s experienced animal care team.
If all goes as planned, Tisa’s calf and Kumi’s calf could become the first giraffe calves born at Brevard Zoo since 2020, when the calves’ sire, Mapenzi, was born at the Zoo.
Tisa was born at the Virginia Zoo in 2022 before arriving at Brevard Zoo in 2023. She was paired with Mapenzi through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan for Masai giraffes, a conservation program designed to maintain a healthy and genetically diverse population of the endangered species within AZA-accredited zoos.
The upcoming birth is especially significant because Masai giraffes are classified as endangered, with wild populations facing threats from habitat loss, poaching, disease, and other challenges throughout Tanzania and Kenya.
Zoo officials say Tisa appears healthy, and her pregnancy is progressing normally. As she approaches her birthing window, keepers will closely monitor her for signs of labor, including increased restlessness, decreased appetite, and the development of her teats.
A newborn giraffe is an impressive sight from the moment it enters the world. Calves typically stand about 6 feet tall and weigh approximately 150 pounds at birth.
During delivery, the calf experiences a roughly 6-foot drop to the ground, which helps break the umbilical cord, stimulates its first breath, and encourages it to stand and begin walking—often within its first hour of life.
Following the birth, Tisa and her calf will spend time behind the scenes to bond.
During that period, the Zoo’s animal care and veterinary teams will perform a brief health examination before allowing the pair to continue together. Once keepers determine both animals are comfortable, the calf will gradually be introduced to the rest of the giraffe herd before eventually making its public debut in the guest viewing habitat.
With Kumi already nearing the end of her pregnancy and Tisa now expecting, Brevard Zoo could soon welcome two endangered Masai giraffe calves, providing an important boost to conservation efforts while giving visitors two exciting new additions to look forward to.
