#SixFootSmall Announcement 🦒

Big news: little hooves 💕🦒 In honour of Mother’s Day, your Toronto Zoo is excited to announce 11.5-year-old Masai giraffe, Mstari, is expecting! Mstari is six months into her 13- to 16-month-long pregnancy (just past the first trimester) and is doing well so far. Based on her previous pregnancies, we estimate her due date will be late winter to early spring 2026. Your Toronto Zoo is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Masai Giraffe Species Survival Plan® (SSP), a cooperative breeding program among accredited zoos that recommended the pairing of Mstari and 12.5-year-old Kiko. In preparation for their introduction, Wildlife Care staff began collecting Mstari's feces three times a week to monitor her hormone levels. Breeding introductions were carefully observed up to November 4, 2024, and in January, our Reproductive Science team analysed several months of fecal samples for pregnancy hormone levels and confirmed that Mstari is showing normal hormonal signs of being pregnant. In December 2018, the conservation status of Masai giraffes was elevated to Endangered by the International Union for Conservation and Nature (IUCN). Fewer than 35,000 Masai giraffes survive in the wild, having experienced more than a 50% decline in the past 30 years. Illegal hunting and habitat loss are their primary threats. Your Toronto Zoo continues to support field conservation efforts for the species through the Wild Nature Institute’s Masai Giraffe Project. In December 2018, the conservation status of Masai giraffes was elevated to Endangered by the International Union for Conservation and Nature (IUCN). Fewer than 35,000 Masai giraffes survive in the wild, having experienced more than a 50% decline in the past 30 years. Illegal hunting and habitat loss are their primary threats. Your Toronto Zoo continues to support field conservation efforts for the species through the Wild Nature Institute’s Masai Giraffe Project. The Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy is the dedicated fundraising partner supporting vital conservation efforts led by the Toronto Zoo in the fight against extinction. With the help of generous donors, @tzwc supports animal well-being, experiential learning opportunities, and essential conservation science programs connecting people with nature. Learn how you can help create a lasting impact for animals like the Masai giraffes—today and for generations to come: wildlifeconservancy.ca #SixFootSmall #GuardiansofWild