Calgary Zoo's newest giraffe makes her debut

The Calgary Zoo is showing off its newest arrival a giraffe named Emara.

The five-year-old's arrival from the San Diego Zoo earlier this summer aspart of the Species Survival Plan (SSP)boosted the total population of Masai giraffes in Canada to four, the zoo said in a release.

She has been in quarantine since her arrival.

"As a conservation organization, we are dedicated to protecting species here at home and around the world," said the zoo's curator, Dr. Malu Celli.

New girl at the zoo: Emara the giraffe getting along well with Nabo the boy giraffe

8 years ago

Duration 0:59

The five-year-old arrived from the San Diego Zoo earlier this summer as part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP). The plan is for her to breed with the Calgary Zoo's six-year-old Nabo and make Canada's fifth Masai giraffe.

"Wild giraffe populations have decreased by 50 per cent, due mostly to habitat loss and poaching in the wild. In this way, we are helping to play a role in the preservation of the species."

The zoo plans to breed Emara with its six-year-old male, Nabo.

So far, things seem to be going well in that respect if not a little too well.

"He sometimes doesn't let her eatbecause he's just so into her," said Celli. "But that's all a positive sign to us."

Emara will live in the African Savannah Building with him, and the other females, Carrie, who is 23 years old, and Moshi, who will be one year old next month.

Across Canada, there are nine zoos caring for a population of fewer than 30 giraffes.

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