Species: Reticulated Giraffe

Male: Jiggs
Birth Weight: 130 pounds
Birth Height: 6 feet

Mother: Mara
Father: Tuscon

When the giraffe keepers came in to work early on the morning of Saturday, June 14, 2008, they were greeted with a cute and cuddly 6 foot tall bundle of joy! Baby Jiggs arrived before dawn.

True to her independent spirit, first time mother Mara gave birth all on her own, surprising the keepers who have been watching her closely as her due date approached. Mother giraffes, whose gestational period is nearly 15 months, give birth standing up.

The new family is doing great and the rest of the giraffe herd has welcomed Jiggs into their hearts. Visitors to Safari West can see Jiggs playing in the giraffe enclosure with his cousins, trying out his wild and long new legs! He's a real sweet heart!

• To see some beautiful photos taken of Jiggs and family by John Burgess of the Press Democrat, please visit their site.
• To learn how Jiggs got his interesting and unusual name, click here!