The baby boom at Fort Worth Zoo is showing no signs of slowing down, with a baby giraffe named Korbel ringing in the New Year with his towering presence, officials said. Announcing the birth on Thursday, the zoo shared that Korbel arrived at an impressive 6 feet, 3 inches, and tipped the scales at 165 pounds, according to NBC DFW.
Born on the first day of January, his name gives a nod to the spirited celebrations of New Year's Eve. While the rest of us were sleeping away the last of the 2023 hangover, this "not-so-little guy" was already standing tall, ready to start the year off with a bang. As for his social life, Korbel spent the first few weeks bonding with his mom, Corrie, and getting to know the other lofty creatures in the herd. "It is still too cold for Korbel to be outside, so he will stay in the barn for now," the zoo said, as reported by The Dallas Morning News. This brisk weather hasn't put a damper on his spirits, giving him plenty of opportunities to dabble with various enrichments, including a peculiar fascination with grapevine wreaths and the occasional vanity moment in front of a hanging mirror.
The arrival of Korbel isn't the only cause for celebration. Fort Worth Zoo also celebrated the birth of a lion cub named Moja, born in October and hailed as the first lion birth at the zoo in nearly ten years. Moja has already made quite the impression, falling in line as one of the Zoo's prides – pun intended – born to mother Saba and father Jabulani.
And the hit parade of new residents doesn't stop there. Two red wolves, Shiner and Natalie, have also joined the Fort Worth Zoo family. Described as an "older companion pair," they are part of a critical conservation effort as the red wolf is a hair's breadth away from vanishing, with fewer than 30 individuals remaining in the wild. "Red wolves are a critically endangered species with less than 30 left in the wild," the zoo underscored, per The Dallas Morning News.
While Korbel is still off-limits to the public, eager visitors should stay tuned. The Fort Worth Zoo will announce when this giraffe calf is ready to take center stage and meet his adoring fans. For now, he remains the tall and silent type, peeking out from behind the barn doors.
