Brevard Zoo Announces Pregnancy of Masai Giraffe Kumi, First Giraffe Birth Since 2020 Expected This Summer
By Space Coast Daily // January 22, 2026
12-year-old Masai giraffe 'Kumi' is pregnant
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Brevard Zoo is preparing to welcome a new addition this summer after announcing that Kumi, a 12-year-old Masai giraffe, is pregnant.
The pregnancy marks the zoo’s first giraffe birth since 2020, when Mapenzi — the calf’s sire — was born. Zoo officials said the announcement is a significant milestone and an exciting moment for staff and visitors alike.
Giraffes have a lengthy gestation period of approximately 13 to 15 months, placing Kumi’s expected due window sometime this summer. Kumi and Mapenzi were paired through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan for Masai giraffes, a cooperative program designed to maintain a healthy, genetically diverse population within AZA-accredited facilities.
The anticipated birth is especially important for the Masai giraffe subspecies, which is classified as endangered and faces ongoing threats in the wild from habitat loss, poaching, disease and other pressures across parts of Tanzania and Kenya.
While it has been several years since the zoo last welcomed a giraffe calf, Kumi is under the care of an experienced animal care team, including senior staff members who have previously managed giraffe births. According to the zoo, Kumi remains healthy and is exhibiting her normal behaviors at this stage of the pregnancy.
As the expected birth window approaches, animal care staff will closely monitor Kumi for signs of labor, which can include restlessness, decreased appetite and physical changes such as the development of her udders.
Giraffe calves are among the largest newborns in the animal kingdom, typically standing about 6 feet tall and weighing roughly 150 pounds at birth.
Calves are born after a dramatic six-foot drop to the ground, a natural process that breaks the umbilical cord, stimulates breathing and helps the newborn stand and walk within about an hour.
Following the birth, Kumi and her calf will remain behind the scenes to bond, aside from a brief veterinary and animal care examination to ensure the calf’s health. Zoo officials said there is no set timeline for introducing the calf to the rest of the herd or to public viewing areas such as the giraffe veldt, noting that the behaviors and comfort of both mother and calf will guide the process.
