BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — An endangered Masai giraffe newborn is receiving specialized care from Tufts University after it was unable to nurse.
The 167-pound Masai calf was born at Franklin Park Zoo on August 7 and appeared healthy after a successful pregnancy. There was some concern, however, after the baby was unable to nurse within the first 24 hours, despite the animal’s best efforts.
The zoo’s veterinary team was able to tube feed the calf to give him necessary nutrients, but further attempts to nurse were still unsuccessful.
On Sunday, it was decided that the calf would be brought to Hospital for Large Animals at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in Grafton, Massachusetts for further care. He is now receiving nutrition and fluids through an IV and antibiotics for some developing diarrhea and mild pneumonia.
Despite not reliably eating on his own yet, the Tufts team has been successful in feeding him approximately 20 ounces from a bottle.
Further prognosis of the calf is currently being kept private, but he is still under care of Tufts. His mother Amari is being closely monitored and cared for behind the scenes back at Franklin Park Zoo and his father Chad can still be seen by visitors.