LA Zoo

While she stands pretty small at this point, Masai Giraffes are the tallest land mammal, reaching over 18 feet at adulthood! Shani was born to mom Naema, who still stands guard at the Los Angeles Zoo, and the lil one's already super expressive. While we've peeped other baby giraffes more recently, I still remember the species from that magical birth video from a few years back.

In addition to record-breaking height, they can run up to 35 miles an hour and lash out with a kick so powerful that it can decapitate a lion! Whoa, don't cross her path.

Giraffes communicate through posturing and other movements, especially the way tails move! Try to guess what the twosome is saying to each other in the gallery when you read more

Baby time! Peep Peninsular Pronghorns born on Feb. 26 at the LA Zoo, making news yet again. We greeted the duo born back in 2008 as the first-ever born in captivity and then the twosome from 2009, too. What makes the latest pair so special is that one of the babes is a girl! She's the only female ever born in this country — LA Zoo is the only US institution to have the species — and (obviously) her presence offers great hope for the future proliferation of the creatures.
You may recall from my past trivia update, that these dashers can outrun humans at four days and sprint short distances faster than dogs and horses at just one week old. As the fasted hoofed mammals on earth, I hope they're not "it" in any game of keeper tag!

Source: Los Angeles Zoo/ Tad Motoyama

I'm no gambler so I'd say one can never really guarantee who'll win any sporting event — they're not called upsets for nothing! Naturally, your guess is as good as mine . . . or an orangutan's?

To help predict the winner of the college national championship for football, the LA Zoo decorated papier-mâché figures filled with treats to represent mascots for the two teams playing in the BCS game on Thursday. This year, 30-year-old Bruno got to pick from a Texas Longhorn or Big Al, the elephant of the University of Alabama. As you can see from the picture, he immediately grabbed for the cattle. (Hook 'em horns.) After a brief investigation, he set it back down, demolished the Alabama elephant and then returned for the Longhorn. Ha.

While it definitely makes for a fun photo opp, it's also a neat enrichment treat for zoo animals — can you remember another place that consulted an ape to answer an important question? Find out when you read more