Azzanti, the newest giraffe at the Prigen Safari Park in Pasaruan, East Java, was unveiled to the public on Tuesday after previously being quarantined for three months.

Azzanti, a female, was born to 8-year-old female Azhari and 15-year-old male Khadafi in January. Both of Azzanti’s parents were born at a zoo in Texas, the United States.

Azzanti is Azhari’s first calf, while Khadafi had previously sired calves with other females.

Prigen Safari Park veterinarian Mohammad Nanang Tejo Laksono said that according to conservation regulations, baby giraffes are only allowed to be shown to the public after they are 3 months or older.

“[The unveiling] was also done to welcome the Eid holiday,” he said, referring to the Islamic Idul Fitri holiday that will fall on June 5. 

Azzanti is the seventh giraffe calf to be born at the park, which now has nine giraffes in its menagerie.

Prigen Safari Park giraffe keeper M. Amri said Azzanti’s birth further showed the success of the park’s giraffe breeding program.

“Especially since the world’s giraffe population has already entered the red zone, which means that it is nearly extinct,” he said. “This success will act as encouragement to continue breeding other animals that are endangered.”

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, giraffes are classified as “vulnerable”, with a declining population. The IUCN estimates that there were around 68,000 giraffes in the wild as of 2016. (kmt)