Two giraffes born at Zoo Miami; the calves took quite a fall at birth

Malcolm, a 4-year-old male giraffe at Zoo Miami, must be standing tall(er) nowadays.

Malcolm, a first-time daddy, fathered two baby giraffes that were born within four days of one another at Zoo Miami.

The first calf, a boy, birthed by 14-year-old Mia, dropped Friday — literally.

Giraffes, who gestate for about 15 months, rarely lie down during birth. Consequently, the calves — which are usually about 6 feet tall — drop between 4 and 6 feet straight down to the ground.

The unnamed calf weighed 181 pounds. He is Mia’s seventh baby and the 54th giraffe born at Zoo Miami, the zoo announced in a release.

He made his debut with the herd Monday after completing a neo-natal exam on Sunday. Prior to that, the baby was secluded in a holding

Zuri, a 6 ½-year-old giraffe at Zoo Miami, gave birth to a 119-pound female Monday. It was Zuri’s second baby.

pen with Mia so mother and calf could bond.

The second baby giraffe was born to Zuri, who is not quite 7 years old. Zuri’s newborn dropped around 10:30 a.m. Monday. The unnamed female, weighing

in at 119 pounds, was the 55th giraffe born at Zoo Miami, the zoo said.

The calf was due for her neonatal exam Tuesday. If all goes well, mother and daughter are expected to debut with the herd Wednesday.

Wild giraffes have been designated as vulnerable recently by International Union for the Conservation of Nature, an elevation from “a species of least concern,” because of significant population reductions.

Mia, a 14-year-old giraffe at Zoo Miami, gave birth to a 181-pound male on April 2. It was Mia’s seventh baby.