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Masai giraffe calf born at Franklin Park Zoo needs specialized care at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University

Tuesday August 12, 2025

UPDATE: August 20

Our giraffe calf is home again. Thanks to the expert intensive care he received at Hospital for Large Animals at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, the “little guy” returned to Franklin Park Zoo on Tuesday evening after showing improvement in his health.

He is currently being bottle fed around the clock by our dedicated animal care team as we work toward reintroducing the calf to his mother, Amari. Such reintroductions can be very challenging, so we’re following their lead and taking it slow. They will remain behind the scenes during this time, but guests can still congratulate the proud papa, Chad, in Giraffe Savannah.

UPDATE: August 14

Specialists at Hospital for Large Animals at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in Grafton, Mass., report the male calf is showing significant improvement in some important areas, especially in his feeding and hydration, as well as in treating his diarrhea.
 
The calf received another plasma transfusion to increase his immunoglobulins, which will help his immune system fight infections, and he’s positively responding to the bottle feeding now. While it’s still taking him a little while to latch on to the bottle, he is eventually able to drink the full amount. As his gut heals and the diarrhea continues to improve, he will get larger amounts of food by bottle and less through IV nutrition, though he will continue to receive other IV treatments, including antibiotics. His attitude and activity are improved, and the team has upgraded his condition to “cautiously optimistic.”
 
The calf will continue to receive treatment at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University for at least a few more days. In the meantime, we’re continuing to closely monitor his mother Amari, who is doing well behind the scenes, while the calf’s father, Chad, can be seen in Giraffe Savannah as usual. 

Photo credit: Taylor Coester for Cumming School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University

The animal care team at Franklin Park Zoo recently celebrated the birth of an endangered Masai giraffe, but its heartwarming arrival is tempered with concern for the calf’s ability to thrive. 

After a normal pregnancy, 9-year-old Amari gave birth to the calf around 10 a.m. on August 7. The 167-pound calf appeared healthy and was able to stand. However, despite some attempts by the calf, the animal was not able to successfully nurse within the first 24 hours.

“The first hours are a critical time for the calf to start bonding with its mother and receive nourishing food and critical antibodies from her colostrum, or the first milk,” said Dr. Brianne Phillips, Associate Veterinarian at Zoo New England. “Without acquiring these antibodies, the calf’s immune system may not develop properly to deal with routine bacteria and disease.”

A routine exam took place less than 24 hours after birth that confirmed the calf had not nursed. After attempts to bottle feed failed, the veterinary team was able to tube feed the calf to deliver vital colostrum and a giraffe plasma infusion. Further attempts to encourage nursing were not successful.

The decision was made Sunday to send him to Hospital for Large Animals at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in Grafton, Mass. He is currently receiving fluids and nutrition support through an IV catheter. The calf also started developing diarrhea and has mild pneumonia, and is therefore being treated with antibiotics. He is still not reliably eating on his own, but the team at Tufts was successful in getting him to drink approximately 20 oz from a bottle.

The prognosis for the calf is guarded. His mother Amari remains behind the scenes at Franklin Park Zoo while she is being closely monitored. She is eating and behaving normally and receiving doting care and regular enrichment from her care team. Guests can still see the calf’s father, Chad, grazing and roaming the Giraffe Savannah habitat.

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