29yrswithaGApass Posted October 28, 2014 Report Share Posted October 28, 2014 Source: Six Flags Great Adventure Things Are Looking Up at Six Flags Safari Great Adventure Celebrates Birth of Female Giraffe Calf Jackson, NJ — October 28, 2014 —Six Flags Great Adventure’s animal care team is celebrating the birth of an adorable giraffe calf at the Safari. Mika, a female reticulated giraffe, was born to first-time mom Noel Oct. 11 inside the giraffe barn. Mika is the Safari’s ninth giraffe. “Noel is a great mom,” said Jason Holloway, a safari supervisor who oversees the giraffe herd. “She began nursing right away. Mika is healthy and doing very well.” Holloway said that Mika stood within an hour of her birth and measured 5 feet 10 inches tall. Mika’s mother Noel was born December 2001. The calf’s grandmother, named Georgia, has been one of the Safari’s most beloved residents since 1993. Mika ventured outside the giraffe barn for the first time Oct. 21 under Noel’s watchful eye, and Holloway was there to capture the first moments on video. Guests will be able to see Mika on the Safari Off Road Adventure during the park’s closing weekend Nov. 1 and 2, and during the Grape Adventure Wine Festival’s Safari tours Nov. 8 and 9, weather permitting. Reticulated giraffes, also known as Somali giraffes, are native to northeastern Kenya, southern Ethiopia and Somalia. They possess a distinctive coat pattern featuring red-brown polygonal patches divided by thin white lines. Full-grown female giraffes stand approximately 16 feet tall and weigh approximately 1,800 lbs. Giraffe gestation lasts approximately 13 to 15 months, with typically one calf born. Mothers give birth standing up. Newborn calves typically stand approximately 6 feet tall. For more information on Six Flags Great Adventure, visitwww.sixflags.com/greatadventure Click HERE for a video clip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pineracer Posted October 28, 2014 Report Share Posted October 28, 2014 I am Subbed to GA so I am watching the clip on my ipad, and it looks like there markings darken with age...something I did not know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Intaminous_Me Posted November 27, 2014 Report Share Posted November 27, 2014 Recently, the mother giraffe Noel gave birth to her first baby, Mika. Would anyone like to share some interesting happenings that they saw at the safari with this new little giraffe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted November 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2014 The announcement only came a couple of weekends before the end of the season and because of cool temps on those days the baby giraffe was kept indoors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.