SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3/Gray News) – Christmas deliveries are taking on a whole new meaning at Dickerson Park Zoo this year.
Zookeepers reported the birth of a new giraffe in the early morning hours of December 17.
GiraffeThe zoo shared with KY3 that the baby, named Gelner, and its mom, Emma, are bonding and doing well.
“Mark Gelner is a past president of the Friends of the Zoo board, and the Gelner family continues to be incredible supporters of the zoo,” said zoo spokeswoman Joey Powell. “We could not do Brew at the Zoo without the generosity and help of the Gelner family and Heart of America. Plus, the logo for Brew at the Zoo features a giraffe. It was a unanimous decision to name the giraffe after the Gelner family.”
The giraffe building will remain closed to the public on Tuesday but is expected to be open in the next few days.
The zoo also welcomed three cheetah cubs, born on November 16. The cubs received their first wellness exam on December 17, the zoo reported.
According to the zoo, the animal care staff determined that the trio included two girls and a boy. A contest to name the cubs will be announced in the first week of January.
The cubs are not on exhibit, however, videos and photos are regularly shared on the zoo’s social media pages.
The Dickerson Park Zoo is credited with providing the information and images used in this story.
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