Young giraffe at the Joburg Zoo is named after Caxton
SAXONWOLD – Shirinde said the calf was born weighing 100 kgs.
Johannesburg Zoo welcomed a new giraffe cow to the family on the stormy evening of 31 October.
Acting executive manager at the Johannesburg Zoo Tshepang Makganye said that Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo is excited to announce that the newest born giraffe calf will be named Caxton.
“This is to recognise the ongoing support and media coverage generated by the Rosebank Killarney Gazette and the Caxton newspaper group for the Joburg Zoo.”
Editor of the Gazette, Ashtyn Mackenzie thanked the zoo for such a kind gesture.
Curator for giraffes Richard Shirinde said that Caxton’s mother, Jenny, was struggling to eat for two days prior to Caxton’s birth.
“At 3pm on 31 October, we were called to the site because her head was showing. Jenny spent about 30 minutes in labour. Once the calf came out, the father poked at her until she stood up, about an hour after birth,” said Shirinde.
“The dad was so protective of the little one.”
Shirinde said the calf was born weighing 100 kgs.
When Caxton failed to suckle from her mother after two days, she was pulled out of the enclosure and taken to the hospital where she was fed colostrum.
Veterinary nurse Akhira Singh explained that for the first two days, Caxton was placed on drips and later introduced to bottle feeding.
Now one-month-old, young Caxton is isolated from the tower (a group of giraffes) and only interacts with one sociable giraffe.
“She is drinking about seven litres of fresh milk and probiotic each day. We will slowly reintroduce her to her parents,” said Singh, who was impressed by Caxton’s progress.
Disclaimer: It was not the decision of Caxton Local Media to name the giraffe. The naming was arranged by the Johannesburg Zoo to honour Caxton Local Media for our work. This action does not prevent Caxton Local Media from reporting in a balanced manner concerning operations at the Johannesburg Zoo.
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