Giraffe in Israel Sets World Record with 11th Baby
Here’s some lighthearted news to bring a smile to your face. A nearly 20 year old giraffe at the zoo known as Israeli Safari has given birth to her 11th baby, setting a world record. She is formally known as Denissa, but more humorously known as “super-mum.”
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What’s most impressive is that the gestation period for giraffes is an extensive 14 months. Female giraffes gain maturity when they are 5. So you do the math, for how much of Denissa’s life has she been pregnant? Quite a lot of time in my opinion. Zoo staff members suggest that Denissa has been pregnant often because she is the only adult female among their herd of giraffes. Her latest calf is a girl, giving her a total of 3 girls and 8 boys.
Giraffes are beloved animals and are best known as the tallest terrestrial animals on earth. But want to read something you perhaps didn’t know? Here’s an interesting tidbit: giraffes sleep less than most animals, averaging only 1.9 hours per day!
Israeli Safari contains both a traditional zoo and a drive-through safari-like experience. The total area of the zoological park is 250 acres and is home to over 1600 animals. Israeli Safari’s website claims that it is “the largest animal collection in the Middle East.” Reviews of the zoo can be read by clicking here and here.
Photo Credit: badjonni on Flickr under a Creative Commons license
