Zoo Babies! L.A. Zoo Debuts Newborn Giraffe, Calamian Deer And Chacoan Peccaries

The Los Angeles Zoo officially welcomed some August babies to the public this week -- a Masai giraffe, a male Calamian deer and two Chacoan peccaries. Head to Griffith Park and meet your new neighbors, and don't forget to check out the baby Komodo dragon hatchlings, a variety of exotic hoof stock in the nursery and the first ever harbor seal pup born at L.A. Zoo. Also this week, Betty White, long-time supporter and trustee of GLAZA was named Chairman of the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association.

Now, some fun facts.

Masai giraffes -
...Communicate through posturing, movement and vocalization
...Can decapitate a lion by kicking it
...Native to Kenya and Tanzania
...Reach a speed of 35 miles per hour
...Are the tallest land mammal (6 feet at birth, grow 4 feet the first year, adults to 18 feet tall)

Calamian deer -
...Endangered
...Native to the Philippines and Calamian Islands
...Prefer swampy areas close to rivers, marshes, tall grass, open forests
...Eats leaves, twigs and shoots
...Males need large amounts of calcium and phosphate to grow antler bone

Chacoan peccaries -
...Thought to be extinct until 1972 when biologists found them chillin' in Paraguay
...Similar to pigs but with differences in teeth, tusks and coats
...Native to Bolivia, Argentina (and, um Paraguay)
...Diet of cactus, bulbs, roots, tubers, rhizomes and an occasional small mammal or reptile