Powdersville Elementary LAUNCH Students Experience Kiko's Debut

The Powdersville Elementary LAUNCH students watched intently as The Greenville Zoo welcomed it’s newest member, Kiko, a male Masai giraffe.

According to zoo officials, nearly one million viewers worldwide watched as Autumn, a 6 year old female Masai giraffe gave birth to the baby at 11:49 p.m. on October 22, 2012. Just two days later, on Wednesday October 24, the students experienced first hand what the rest of the world was waiting for- the calf’s first steps into the public eye, the results of the neonatal exam and the much anticipated name!

Planned more than a year ago, the students had no idea that their Greenville Zoo Behind The Scenes tour would reveal such a unique and historic day as the zoo welcomed it’s youngest member to their animal family. Autumn and Walter, a 7 year old male giraffe watched proudly as their son made his way around the African Exhibit on zoo grounds.

“ We try to plan unique and interesting trips for our LAUNCH students, said Mrs. Joyce Leftwich, Powdersville Elementary School Launch teacher, but we had no idea that we would be able to experience the intimate details of a newborn and it’s mother interacting right in front of us! A very special opportunity for these students.”

Zoo officials look forward to Kiko interacting naturally with his mother and father even though he will be on exhibit daily. As a visitor to the zoo you can expect Kiko doing what most babies do, nursing, sleeping and growing as he becomes more active and curious.

Now that Kiko has arrived, and getting more and more comfortable with his surroundings, MY 102.5, a local radio station who stayed close to the “Kiko experience”, is planning a baby shower to celebrate. The event is scheduled for Saturday, November 10 from 10 a.m. – Noon.

For more information about the Greenville Zoo, visit www.greenvillezoo.com. Follow the zoo on Facebook at facebook.com/greenvillezoo and Twitter at twitter.com/greenvillezoo.

About Anderson District One LAUNCH

LAUNCH (Learning Activities for Unique, New, and Challenging Horizons) is a non-graded program serving students with high academic performance ability in Anderson County School District One.  Elementary students in grades 3-5, who are eligible based on standards identified by the South Carolina Department of Education, are invited to participate in the program.