SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, July 27, 2026 (Gephardt Daily) — Utah’s Hogle Zoo has announced the birth of a female giraffe calf on Monday, July 20.
The offspring of Stephanie, 8, and Ja, 5, weighs 159 pounds and stands 6 feet tall.
The birth occurred naturally in the African Savanna barn, with the animal care team monitoring the delivery in person and via cameras donated by the Marriner S. Eccles Foundation and Backstreet Surveillance, Inc., the Zoo statement says.
“In preparation, the team created a soft-landing area to cushion the calf’s natural six-foot drop into the world.”
The calf was born with an umbilical hernia that is not causing complications and will be repaired with surgery in the coming weeks.
“During her initial exam, animal health and care teams evaluated the hernia and continue to monitor it closely. Overall, the calf is healthy and is nursing, digesting, defecating, and moving normally.
“Stephanie and her calf remained behind the scenes following the birth to allow the calf time to adapt to her new surroundings. Guests may see the pair in the winter yard behind The Eccles Express Train Station this summer.
This is Stephanie’s third calf, following Reyna (2022) and Nguvu (2025). It is also Ja’s third calf. His previous offspring are Nguvu (2025) and Hal, born to Minka in January 2026. Ja arrived at Hogle Zoo from Memphis Zoo in June 2022 based on a breeding recommendation through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan.
About giraffes
Found in Africa’s savannas, grasslands, and open woodlands, giraffes form loose, ever-shifting herds of 2 to 70 individuals. As large herbivores, giraffes play a key role in shaping vegetation, supporting biodiversity, and maintaining ecological balance across the landscapes they inhabit. Through browsing, seed dispersal, and long-distance movement, giraffes help shape healthy ecosystems.
The birth of Stephanie’s third calf represents an important contribution to the long-term care and conservation of giraffes, a vulnerable species facing habitat loss, human population growth, and poaching. Facing a “silent extinction,” giraffe populations in their natural habitats have declined by nearly 30% in the past 35 years, with relatively little public awareness.
As a participant in AZA’s Giraffe SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) program, Hogle Zoo joins more than 100 AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums supporting giraffe conservation through research, education, field conservation, public awareness, and expert animal care.
Giraffe Stephanie and female calf. Photo: Hogle Zoo
