The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore is offering guests a chance to meet its new giraffe calf, Titali, and her mother, Kipepeo. From June 20 to 30, there will be a limited number of “sneak peek” passes available.
The giraffe house with Kipepeo and Titali has been closed since Titali’s birth on March 27. “At her young age, Titali can be easily startled by new experiences, so we’ve been adjusting her environment every day, getting her used to all the sights, sounds, and smells she’ll encounter once we reopen Giraffe House,” said Erin Cantrell-Grimm, the mammal curator at Maryland Zoo.
“The visiting pass lets us bring small, scheduled groups of people inside to help with Titali’s acclimation until we’ll be able to fully reopen the Giraffe House later this summer,” Cantrell-Grim continued.
Titali’s birth was a “spring surprise” for the zoo. Kipepeo was pregnant when she arrived at the zoo in November. But her pregnancy was unknown until she went into labor.
Titali got her name through an online survey. It means “butterfly” in the Bulu language.
Ticket Information
There will be up to 200 guest passes issued each day. They will be scheduled in 10-minute time slots between 1:15 and 3:15 p.m. Passes are $25 each (or $20 for zoo members). They are available online and on a first-come, first-served basis at the main gate. The price does not include entry to the zoo, which is $33.
For those looking for souvenirs, there’s the limited-edition giraffe mom and calf adoption package for $100. It includes a plush keepsake, two zoo tickets, a personalized adoption certificate, a giraffe fun fact sheet, and a 4-by-6-inch photo.
The money raised will “support the future growth of the zoo’s giraffe herd.” It will also support the care and conservation of four species of giraffe in 21 African countries.
Marland Zoo: 1 Safari Pl., Baltimore, Maryland
Feature image courtesy Maryland Zoo
