New Baby Giraffe on the Way in Cincinnati

 The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden recently announced exciting baby news, with staffers as caught off-guard as anyone. Tessa, its 19-year-old female giraffe, will give birth to her fifth calf this October, with the new arrival joining dad Zeke, Zoey and half-brother Fennessy at the zoo’s Giraffe Ridge.

“We weren’t sure that Tessa could still conceive and were a little discouraged when we didn’t see signs of breeding,” Cincinnati Zoo giraffe keeper Teresa Truesdale said in a March 12 press release. “It turns out that the breeding was happening at night when we weren’t around!”

Two days before sharing the news with the pubic, the zoo’s social media staffers had a little fun by posting Tessa’s ultrasound on Facebook and asking followers for guesses. The resulting 1,400 comments included guesses ranging from “hippo” to “wolf.” Only a few people guessed correctly.

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden posted this ultrasound photo March 10, 2026, asking Facebook followers to guess the kind of animal. (photo courtesy of Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden)

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Giraffe Species Survival Plan recommend Tessa’s pairing with Zeke. The zoo shared that the organization valued the introduction of this genetic combination to the population to maintain healthy genetic diversity.

The pregnancy also builds excitement for the new Giraffe Tower, a construction project starting in 2026. When completed, it will provide visitors new ways to interact with the giraffes, including more feeding and behind-the-scenes opportunities.

Until October, visitors can see Tessa during the zoo’s regular visiting hours, and those who want to track her pregnancy can follow the zoo’s social media feeds for updates.

For more information, visit cincinnatizoo.org.

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