GVL Zoo Giraffe Pregnant

Greenville Zoo
Photo credit Dreamstime

Officials at the Greenville Zoo say their 13 year old female giraffe, Autumn, is pregnant. The staff confirmed the pregnancy through hormone analysis after reviewing the zookeepers’ daily logs.  The birth is expected sometime in early July. 

Autumn was born at Franklin Park Zoo in Boston back in January of 2006 and was trasnfered to the Greenville Zoo in July 2007.  The tranfer was part of a breeding loan.

Greenville Zoo Giraffes

Image: Greenville Zoo

Autumn has had 4 calf since her residency at the Greenville Zoo.  Back in October 2012, Autumn gave birth to her first calf, Kiko.  Kiko now lives at the Toronto Zoo.  Autumn’s second pregnancy ended with a stillborn calf following a breech birth in August 2014. The calf, which was named Roho, is remembered with a tree located near the entrance to the African Overlook section of the Greenville Zoo. Her third calf, Tatu, was born in February 2016, and was transferred to the Lehigh Valley Zoo in Schnecksville, PA in 2017.  Kiden, Autumn’s first calf with Miles, a giraffe that came from the Houston Zoo, was born January 31, 2018, and is expected to remain at the Greenville Zoo for another year.  Miles has been in Greenville since 2016,

A majority of the animals at the Greenville Zoo are part of a cooperative breeding program known as the Species Survival Program (SSP). The purpose of the cooperative breeding program is to monitor captive populations and make breeding recommendations based on genetic variability.  The idea is to not remove animals from the wild but try to maintane the long-term viable of the population.

In the past, Autumn’s calves had already been transferred to new homes when she gave birth, however, this time, Kiden will be present for the birth. “Every birth is special and unique and with Kiden remaining, this will be the first time that Autumn gives birth with her previous offspring still in tow,” said Greenville Zoo Administrator Jeff Bullock. “We are closely monitoring Autumn’s condition, which appears to be progressing well, so now we just wait and watch.” 

You can watch the Greenville Zoo's Giraffe Cam at https://greenvillezoofoundation.org/Camera