The Fort Worth Zoo introduced two new giraffes to the public on Thursday.
Waylon and Willie made their debut at the zoo this week. They were born on April 28 and May 23.
“We have actually had three giraffe babies born in the last four months which is kind of a first for us,” said Fort Worth Zoo Director of Animal Collections Ron Surratt.
A female giraffe was born before the males arrived.
Surratt said breeding giraffes is not difficult, but it is not common for all the females to get pregnant at the same time.
The zoo now has nine giraffes.
“The female will probably stay here for sure indefinitely, and the two males as they get older will probably go to another institution,” said Surratt.
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The zoo usually only likes to have one male giraffe at a time.
One of the new giraffes actually broke a record at the zoo.
“The last one born here, Waylon, weighed 187 pounds,” said Surratt. “Our largest one up to that was 147, and the other one, Willie, was about 121.”
If you have not figured it out yet, Waylon and Willie, are named after Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson.
The Fort Worth Zoo has had giraffes since 1952.
