San Diego Zoo Safari Park has welcomed two new additions to its giraffe family.
Meet Subeera and Matope, two Masai giraffe calves.
One of the calves was born on April 23, and both names were officially revealed on Tuesday. These leggy little ones are now part of a growing legacy at the park—Matope is the 14th Masai giraffe calf born there.
The name of the female calf is Subeera, which means “patience is rewarded,” and the male’s name is Matope, meaning “mud” in Swahili, an indigenous language spoken in parts of Africa, including Kenya, where Masai giraffes are native.
These two calves have formed a close bond, creating their own little crèche under the watchful eyes of the adult giraffes. According to the San Diego Zoo, as giraffe calves grow older, their mothers often leave the calves together in a “nursery” group. One mother stays to babysit while the others go out to eat and socialize.
Visitors can now spot Subeera and Matope exploring the expansive giraffe habitat—stretching their long legs and growing fast.
Masai giraffes are classified as endangered, not because of predators, but due to habitat loss. The birth of these calves supports the genetic diversity of the species and contributes to global conservation efforts.
So next time you visit the Safari Park, be sure to stop by and meet Subeera and Matope. They may be babies now, but they will soon be the tallest members of the Zoo.