CONTACT: Kyle Shepherd
Direct: 502-238-5331  |  Media Only: 502-744-5639
kyle.shepherd@louisvilleky.gov

Meet Baridi — A new 1-year-old male Masai giraffe joins us from the San Diego Zoo Safari Park! Baridi was born in December and his name means frost in Swahili.

Baridi is currently on exhibit inside the giraffe house while he completes the standard 30-day quarantine for all new animals. As he continues to acclimate, there may be times when he is not available for exhibit.

Once his quarantine and acclimation period is complete, Baridi will join 20-year-old Malaika in the giraffe yard outside.

ABOUT MASAI GIRAFFE

Male giraffes grow to be 15 – 18 feet tall and weigh 1,200 – 1,800 pounds. The signature long neck has only seven vertebrae, the same as most mammals. To counteract the demands of such a long neck, there are valves in the veins of the neck to prevent blood from rushing back too fast. They also have a massive heart (approximately two feet long and 25 pounds in adults) and extremely high blood pressure which is necessary to force blood up the seven or eight foot path to the brain. Giraffes are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Their status was changed from least concern in 2016 after new population surveys estimated an overall 36 – 40 percent decline in the giraffe population from 1985 to 2015. Greatest threats for giraffes include habitat loss and changes through expanding agriculture and mining, illegal hunting and increasing human-wildlife conflict.

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The Louisville Zoo, a nonprofit organization and state zoo of Kentucky, is dedicated to bettering the bond between people and our planet by providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for visitors, and leadership in scientific research and conservation education. The Zoo is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) and by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

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