Milwaukee Co. Zoo welcomes new female giraffe calf

A new reticulated female giraffe has arrived at the Milwaukee County Zoo, officials reported Friday.

The new female was born in the early evening April 26 to first-time mother, Marlee and dad, Bahatika. Veterinarians completed the calf's first exam April 27 and recorded a weight of about 130 pounds and a height of about 5 feet, 7 inches.

The new calf joins Tafari, a male giraffe born at the zoo in September 2015. The public was invited to help choose a name for Tafari after he was born last year. More than 5,000 votes were cast.

Zookeepers and medical staff have been monitoring both the mother and baby giraffe, according to a news release from the zoo. Marlee appears calm and attentive to her offspring, which is nursing regularly.

Marlee is 4 years old and arrived at the zoo in 2013 from Zoo Miami. Bahatika is 11 years old and arrived at the Milwaukee County Zoo in 2006 from the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado. He is also the father of Tafari.

Before Tafari, the last time a giraffe was born at the zoo was in 2003.