Starting tomorrow, the Maryland Zoo's youngest star, a baby giraffe named Titali, will be ready to cautiously step into the spotlight, allowing limited groups of visitors a personal encounter through special viewing passes. Since her birth on March 27, Titali has been off-limits to the public eye. Still, zoo officials have spent the past three months slowly acclimatizing her to the array of new stimuli she'll experience once the Giraffe House reopens later in the season.
Zoo authorities have been conducting a delicate dance of exposure, introducing small, scheduled groups to the curious calf to ensure she's not overwhelmed by her first face-to-face with humanity. Now it seems she's ready for her close-up. However, the Giraffe House's doors still won't be swinging wide open just yet, visitors can secure their spot for a sneak peek through a special visit pass that costs $20 for Maryland Zoo members and $25 for non-members; this does not include the added price of zoo admission, as detailed by the Baltimore Fishbowl.
"Obviously as a new animal she has to understand what's happening in the world around her, so we just really want her to be comfortable," stated, as per WMAR2 News, emphasizing the desire for a safe and congenial environment for Titali as she settles into her long-term home. The funds from these passes aren't just for show and tell of the adorable giraffe calf. The Maryland Zoo asserts that the proceeds will support the growth of their giraffe herd and bolster conservation efforts for giraffes across 21 African countries.
The Maryland Zoo's initiative, which offers these limited-time passes between June 20 and June 30 from 1:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m., serves a dual purpose; it prepares Titali for her debut and fuels the necessary care and conservation for her species.
