This exhausted giraffe gave birth to a calf, then watched on as her baby lay unmoving. While
giraffes may be very different types of mammals to humans, they share the same maternal instincts to
protect and care for their babies. And when female giraffe Marilyn gave birth to a non-moving calf,
onlookers watched with bated breath as the new mother tried to stir life into her child.
Marylin herself lives at Memphis Zoo in Tennessee, and she and others of her species
can be seen in the attraction’s African veldt section. As the name suggests, this area of the
zoo includes animals typically found on the open Plains of the continent, such as zebras, rhinos,
African elephants, and Ostriches. Reticulated giraffes like Marylin,
meanwhile can be found in the wild in Northeast Kenya, Somalia, and the south of Ethiopia.
In addition to their lengthy necks and similarly elongated legs, reticulated
giraffes are distinguished by their polygon shaped patches of Sandy colored fur. Females of
the sub species may weigh as much as 2,600 pounds. Males on the other hand may be almost double that,
and of course these animals are tall. Some male reticulated giraffes
may even reach up to 18 feet. Furthermore, at the time of Marylin pregnancy, she was far from
the only giraffe at Memphis Zoo. Kenya, the father of Marylin's child also lived at the attraction.
Two years prior, another baby had been born at the facility too
and perhaps hopes were high that Marylin would add to that tally with the successful labor.
Then in August, 2008, with Memphis Zoo staff members and visitors, looking on Marylin prepared
to give birth, as onlookers quietly stood by. The giraffe, paced around her enclosure,
getting ready to bring new life into the world. What's more, the entire process was captured
on camera at the zoo. When two hooves started to appear. However, Marilyn stopped walking and held
very still. After a moment, she took a few more steps and ahead became visible next to the hubs.
Then in one quick motion, the rest of the baby emerged and tumbled down to the ground, or it
lay unmoving as the calf remained motionless. However, Marylin slowly turned around to check
on her child. And when she noticed the still form, she bent her long neck down
and began to lick and nudge the new born. At this point though, there was still no response
from the young animal. Then Marilyn nudges the baby again. And there was movement, slowly the
calf raised his little head and opened and closed his mouth as if just waking up from a long nap.
It was later revealed that the animal was male and he was dubbed Kofi, a Ghanaian name often
given to boys born on Friday. At birth Kofi already came in at around six feet tall. And
that was roughly the distance of the drop he had endured upon being expelled from his mother too.
In fact, giraffes are one of the few animal species to possess horns at birth. Ostensibly, to
keep them safe from that fall. And giraffe calves are also quick to learn how to walk. They usually
do so in an hour or less after their birth. The process may not be without a trial-and-error
period. However, as Kofi makes the apparent in the video of this first moment. In particular,
the footage shows Kofi attempting and failing to climb to his feet on several occasions.
Then after having fallen repeatedly, Kofi finally stands upright and legs splayed awkwardly takes
his first few tentative steps. The clip also shows Marilyn following closely behind her baby
for reassurance, her maternal skills would later earn her praise from Memphis Zoo giraffe keeper,
Richard meek, who is quoted in a press release on the birth as saying, “Marylin
is already being such a good mother”. However, the animal had already had a little practice
at being nurturing towards a young calf. Also, if you have not done so already,
please subscribe to our channel and click that notification bell to get inspired by these animal
stories every day. Now, back to the story. Two years before Marilyn had her baby,
another female giraffe at Memphis Zoo named Alta had given birth to a baby girl. The calf named
Angela Kate was the first giraffe to have been born in more than 10 years at the attraction.
Sadly, though also would ultimately Shun, Angela Kate. But when the new born did not receive
the proper care from her mother, Marilyn stepped in as a sort of surrogate parent.
Marilyn had herself delivered her first child. Not long after Angela Kate had entered the world.
Unfortunately, however, her calf had been stillborn. Such a tragic state of affairs
isn't unusual. Indeed, in 2006, Houston wind Bigler, Memphis Zoo assistant curator of mammals
at the time told WMC TV, “stillborn births are very common for the first birth. In fact,
most hoofed animals lose their first babies”. It seems though that Marilyn honed her maternal
instinct while rearing Angela Kate. So, she was more than ready to raise her own baby when
the time came. And in 2008, Memphis zoos, Matt Thompson would speak of Marylin in glowing terms.
“Marylin is a great candidate for a young mother”. He is quoted as saying
in the press release, covering Kofi’s birth. The curator of mammals added, “This is the first
time she will actually nurse a baby, but she has already had the experience of nurturing and caring
for a baby the way she did with Angela Kate”. But Kofi would not be Marylin's only living offspring.
Indeed, since Memphis Zoo welcomed a little calf in 2008. The mother giraffe is thought to have
gone on to give birth at least four more times. And in 2017, Marilyn even became a grandmother of
sorts. That's because in August of that year, Memphis Zoo would announced that a new baby
giraffe named Panya had arrived. And the mother of the child was none other than Angela Kate.
What's more Panya had been born during a veritable baby boom at the zoo. With three
other young giraffes, having been welcomed at the attraction in the four months, leading up to the
calf’s birth. And in a 2017 blog post on Memphis Zoo website area curator, Courtney Jannie would
speak of the staff's delight at the new arrival. “We are thrilled to welcome Panya into our herd”.
Jenny has quoted. “Three calves and four months is something to celebrate.” The post also explained
that Panya’s name is Swahili for small or mouse. The calf was so named because she was
on the small side for a giraffe when she was born five feet tall, instead of the typical six feet.
However, Panya’s mother did not seem to be put off by the calf’s diminutive. “Angela.
Kate is a phenomenal mother”. Jenny continued “considering that she herself was hand reared.
She's shown amazing maternal instincts”, perhaps then Angela Kate took a page out of
the book of her surrogate mother, Marylin. Furthermore, Marylin now in her twenties
is still present in the life of Angela Kate, and now in the life of Angela Kate's daughter
as well. “Marilyn has been behind the scenes with both Angela Kate, and Panya, and all three have
formed a close bond”. Jannie revealed after all humans are not the only species able to love.
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