SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - The Sac Zoo is thrilled to announce that Shani, a 10-year-old Masai giraffe, gave birth to a female calf during the evening on September 20. Mother and calf are spending time bonding in the zoo’s giraffe barn and may have access to the public side yard periodically over the next few days to weeks.

The zoo’s veterinarians performed a routine neonatal health check on the calf including a brief physical exam. Zookeepers had been monitoring Shani around the clock prior to the birth and will continue to closely watch the mother and her calf.

The Sacramento Zoo is now home to five giraffes: one post-reproductive female reticulated giraffe, one male Masai giraffe, two female Masai giraffe including Shani, and now the new calf. This is the 20th calf born at the Sacramento Zoo going back to 1964 when the species was first housed at the zoo.

This birth coincides with the launch of the Sac Zoo’s online Auction 2020, running today through noon on September 29. Due to the pandemic, the nonprofit Sac Zoo is unable to hold its largest fundraisers of the year and thus created the online Auction 2020 as a way to raise much-needed funds to care for the baby giraffe and the hundreds of other rare, endangered and native animals that call the zoo home.

Zoo supporters are able to bid on an opportunity to name the zoo’s new baby giraffe or have the chance to be one of the first to meet the baby and her mother up-close and personal. Other auction items include original art created by a troop of orangutans, the chance to spend a private holiday celebration at the zoo, or even the opportunity to have Breakfast with Butternut the prehensile-tailed porcupine.

These are just a few of the nearly 20 unique, once-in-a-lifetime auction items up for bid at the Sac Zoo’s online Auction 2020. Did you know that it costs the Sacramento Zoo more than $460,000 every 30 days to operate...even during a pandemic? Visit www.saczoo.org/auction2020 through noon on September 29 to bid on once-in-a-lifetime zoo experiences and much more. Or donate to the Feed Your Zoo Campaign and help the zoo care for nearly 500 animals. You won’t want to miss this one-of-a-kind auction! All proceeds raised will benefit the nonprofit zoo and the animals in its care.

And make sure to reserve your tickets for a visit to the Sac Zoo...you never know if you might get a sneak peek at momma and baby giraffe on one of their first adventures outside! There’s always something happening at YOUR Sacramento Zoo! 

Open since 1927, the Sacramento Zoo is home to nearly 500 native, rare and endangered animals and is one of more than 200 accredited institutions of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The Sacramento Zoo, managed by the nonprofit Sacramento Zoological Society, inspires conservation awareness and action through education and recreation. Currently, all tickets must be reserved and purchased online at www.saczoo.org. For information, call 916-808-5888 or visit saczoo.org.