MINOT, ND – The Roosevelt Park Zoo family has grown by six feet! A healthy giraffe calf was born Wednesday to parents Kianga & Mashama; the 9th calf born to the pair. During a wellbaby exam Friday morning, the calf weighs 127 pounds and is about 6 feet tall. The gender of the calf is known and will be announced on Monday. Help us celebrate with a baby shower! RPZ is open Saturday & Sunday from 10-6. In-person and online we will be raising money to be invested in enrichment items for the new calf. Money will also be raised in a one-item auction: a gender reveal painting by our male giraffe Mashama. As an added human element to the celebration, bring a package of diapers and get admission to the zoo for the day at the reduced winter rate. The diaper collection will support the Community Leadership Institute. A previous CLI class supported our enrichment program at the zoo, we are excited to help to pay it forward. Roosevelt Park Zoo is a steering committee member of Giraffe SAFE; a Saving Animals From Extinction conservation program by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. According to SAFE, there are fewer than 100,000 of the endangered giraffe remaining throughout Africa. The giraffe population is declining due to habitat loss, human population growth and poaching. AZA accredited zoos and their partners are working collectively through education, scientific research, field work, public awareness and action. Roosevelt Park Zoo has raised more than $50,000 for giraffe conservation. This has been made possible with the help of our community and zoo patrons who have participated in our giraffe experience over the past ten years since the Giraffe Feeding Station was built.