Vote for your favourite name and come and meet the newest addition to your Toronto Zoo family in the Africa Savanna!
Now viewable from 11:00am - 1:00pm daily!
Please note: For animal well-being, the Giraffe House will close promptly at 1:00pm. Lineups may close earlier depending on capacity. Viewing times are subject to change, as Mstari and her calf may take short breaks throughout the day. Thank you for giving them the quiet time they need to bond!
We are head over hooves here at your Toronto Zoo with the birth of a Masai giraffe calf, born on February 22nd! Baby and Mom have been enjoying quiet time bonding behind the scenes but will make their public debut starting on Friday, March 13th – just in time for March Break! Come on out and visit her and help us choose a name by voting on your favourite option below.
Vote on Your Favourite Name Here!
No purchase required. Voting runs March 10 - 23, 2026 at 11:59pm. One entry per email.
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. Breeding introductions were carefully observed up to November 4, 2024 and in January 2025, our Reproductive Science team analysed several months of fecal samples for pregnancy hormone levels and confirmed that female giraffe, Mstari, was 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.
By supporting animals like the Masai giraffe and the many other species that call your Toronto Zoo home, you’re helping to advance critical conservation efforts and essential animal care. Donations can be made today through our dedicated fundraising partners at the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy by visiting.
The female calf arrived at 1:26am on Sunday, February 22, and was already standing by about 2:00am.
