(Des Moines, IA) -- The Des Moines Blank Park Zoo says their newest addition to the zoo, Bakari the giraffe is enjoying the outdoor giraffe habitat for the first time. The giraffe was born September 7th.
Zoo keepers say Bakari was cautious at first outdoors, then began exploring and wandered from his mother, Zola, to start navigating the slope and grassy areas while keepers and other staff watched.
Guests should be able to view Bakari outside on nice weather days and indoors on colder days this fall at Blank Park Zoo.
Bakari's height at birth was five foot five inches. His weight was 107 lbs. The calf’s mother, Zola, is six years-old and has lived at Blank Park Zoo since 2017. Jakobi, the father, is 17 years-old and has previously sired several calves.