A Masai giraffe calf was born November 30, 2025, to mother Mawe and father Chifu, and early observations (and a video obtained by SanDiegoVille) indicate the newborn is healthy, standing, and bonding well with its mother. The Zoo has not yet announced the calf’s sex or name, but wildlife care specialists say both parents are attentive, with Chifu watching closely from nearby as Mawe nurses and protects the little one.
The birth carries special significance for San Diego Zoo staff, who have known Mawe since the moment she entered the world. She was born at the Zoo in late November 2021- almost exactly four years to the day before welcoming her first calf. Her mother, Saba, helped establish a strong matrilineal presence in the giraffe habitat, and Mawe’s own new role as a mother continues that lineage. Chifu, born in 2009, is one of the Zoo’s most genetically important Masai giraffes, having returned to San Diego after a period at the Sacramento Zoo. He sired a calf earlier this year and is now contributing once again to the Zoo’s long-term conservation program.
The birth also comes amid a deeply emotional period for the San Diego Zoo community. Over the past several months, the organization has faced the loss of several beloved long-term residents, including polar bear Kalluk, Masai giraffe matriarch Nicky, and Western lowland gorilla Maka. Most recently, the Zoo said goodbye to Gramma, the 141-year-old Galápagos tortoise who was one of its most iconic and enduring figures. These losses have weighed heavily on staff already navigating leadership transitions and public scrutiny. Against that backdrop, the sight of a newborn giraffe taking its first wobbly steps has brought relief, pride, and a sense of renewal.
Visitors may catch glimpses of the baby as the wildlife care team gradually introduces the calf to the larger habitat, depending on weather, health, and bonding progress. For now, the focus remains on ensuring Mawe and her newborn continue to thrive. The Zoo is expected to announce more details, including the sex and name, in the coming days.
For a community that has shared in the Zoo’s grief this year, the birth of this calf offers something profoundly simple yet deeply needed: hope rising on new legs.
Originally published on November 30, 2025.
The birth carries special significance for San Diego Zoo staff, who have known Mawe since the moment she entered the world. She was born at the Zoo in late November 2021- almost exactly four years to the day before welcoming her first calf. Her mother, Saba, helped establish a strong matrilineal presence in the giraffe habitat, and Mawe’s own new role as a mother continues that lineage. Chifu, born in 2009, is one of the Zoo’s most genetically important Masai giraffes, having returned to San Diego after a period at the Sacramento Zoo. He sired a calf earlier this year and is now contributing once again to the Zoo’s long-term conservation program.
Each birth of a Masai giraffe is meaningful not only for the Zoo, but for the species as a whole. Wild giraffe populations have fallen more than 40 percent in the last two decades, driven by habitat loss, fragmentation, and poaching. The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance collaborates with conservation groups across East Africa to protect wild giraffes, and every successful birth within accredited zoos strengthens managed populations designed to secure the species’ future. The arrival of this calf adds a moment of optimism to efforts that often unfold against sobering global realities.
The birth also comes amid a deeply emotional period for the San Diego Zoo community. Over the past several months, the organization has faced the loss of several beloved long-term residents, including polar bear Kalluk, Masai giraffe matriarch Nicky, and Western lowland gorilla Maka. Most recently, the Zoo said goodbye to Gramma, the 141-year-old Galápagos tortoise who was one of its most iconic and enduring figures. These losses have weighed heavily on staff already navigating leadership transitions and public scrutiny. Against that backdrop, the sight of a newborn giraffe taking its first wobbly steps has brought relief, pride, and a sense of renewal.
Visitors may catch glimpses of the baby as the wildlife care team gradually introduces the calf to the larger habitat, depending on weather, health, and bonding progress. For now, the focus remains on ensuring Mawe and her newborn continue to thrive. The Zoo is expected to announce more details, including the sex and name, in the coming days.
For a community that has shared in the Zoo’s grief this year, the birth of this calf offers something profoundly simple yet deeply needed: hope rising on new legs.
Originally published on November 30, 2025.
