Dave Caldwell/MDN • Kumari, a 4-year-old snow leopard new to Roosevelt Park Zoo, peers warily at the camera Friday.

Minot’s Roosevelt Park Zoo is heralding the arrival of a new baby this season – a very tall new baby.


Luna, a female giraffe, was born Dec. 22 at the zoo, according to Becky Dewitz, education coordinator at the zoo. Until recently, Luna spent all her time indoors, in a calm, safe environment, and she is developing well, Dewitz said.


“We waited until the weather was nice so she could go outside,” she said. “She’s doing very well.”


Giraffe calves are a very sensitive situation, Dewitz said. Even in captivity, breeding success is not frequent. If giraffes fall, their brains will send a signal to their bodies to accelerate the speed of death, a naturally developed defense against predators in the wild, according to Dewitz.


Luna is the mother’s second calf. The first died tragically after falling and injuring its neck.