KANSAS CITY —There is a new 6-foot-tall bundle of joy at the KCZoo.
On Friday, the zoo introduced Aspen, a female Masai giraffe born to 4-year-old Alika on December 29.
A neonatal exam has been performed and showed that the calf is in good health. Aspen is already spending quality time with 2-month-old half-brother, Beni, and getting a masterclass in zoomies courtesy of her half-sister, 1 ½-year-old Willow.
Aspen is Alika’s first calf and father Aidan’s third. Other members of the Zoo’s herd include adult females Makali and Chandy, who are the respective mothers to Willow and Beni.
Due to construction currently underway on a new giraffe complex, the entire giraffe herd will remain behind the scenes until the new habitat opens by Summer 2026 but may be seen on a live video feed available only at the Zoo.
Click here to learn more about this exciting new complex.
Masai giraffes are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The KCZoo is partnering with Save Giraffes Now on co-existence projects in the Athi-Kapiti region of Kenya, a heavily populated region where human and wildlife conflict is a constant struggle.
In addition, the Zoo participates in The Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan to ensure a genetically diverse and stable giraffe population in accredited facilities. This exciting new arrival is part of our Wild Beginnings program presented by Saint Luke's Health System that celebrates “zooborns” at the KCZoo. Saint Luke’s commitment to innovative, patient-centered maternity care has helped local families flourish for more than 140 years and is a perfect sponsor for the Zoo’s growing animal families. Photos by senior animal care specialist Julia