The Maryland Zoo announced the addition of a reticulated giraffe named “Big Mac” to its herd. The young male is one-and-a-half years old and arrived at the zoo on Nov. 10.
The zoo is truly sticking its neck out to increase the herd, growing from two giraffes to five in just one year. This is the beginning of a multi-year effort to increase the size and diversity of the Maryland Zoo’s giraffe population.
Big Mac’s arrival is thanks to a recommendation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan (SSP). He is finishing his quarantine and introduction to other members of the herd this week, and will meet the public starting on Monday, Dec. 22. The Giraffe House will be open daily to guests from 1–3 p.m.
“Over the past year, we’ve been welcoming the next generation of reticulated giraffe to Maryland Zoo,” said Erin Cantwell-Grimm, mammal curator at Maryland Zoo. “Kipipeo [ke-peh-PAY-oh], a female, joined us last fall and had a female calf, Titali [teh-TALL-ee], in the spring. And, now we’re pleased to welcome Big Mac.”
Cantwell-Grimm explained the process may involve some awkward growing pains for the young fellow, as adapting to a new environment is difficult for any child.
“Coming to a new place and meeting new animals can be a slow process for a young giraffe,” Cantwell-Grimm said. “As we would expect, Big Mac is cautious as he takes in all the information about his surroundings but he seems to be adjusting quite well.”
Big Mac is already 10.5 feet tall, and still getting taller, so he is easy to spot. He has a distinctive airplane-shaped spot pattern on the lower right side of his long neck, and in the center of his ears are markings that look like lightning bolts.
Mike Evitts, spokesperson for the Maryland Zoo, also set Baltimore Fishbowl straight on the origin of Big Mac’s name. It is not derived from a love of McDonald’s food.
“He’s on a strictly veterinarian-approved diet,” Evitts said in a phone call.
The name “Big Mac” is not in any way related to ethnicity or geography.
“No, he is not Scottish,” Evitts explained. “Giraffes come from Africa.”
“He came to us from a facility in Texas that had a naming contest for him, and ‘Big Mac’ was the name that won,” Evitts explained. “We liked the name so much that we asked them if we could keep it, and they said yes, so we did.”
Evitts said Big Mac is adjusting well, and his keepers are pleased with the level of interest he is showing in the rest of the herd. In addition to Kipipeo and Titali, Big Mac joins Caesar and Kessie, male and female respectively, and both older giraffes. Kessie has become a “watchful godmother” to the baby calf, Titali, according to Evitts.
The Giraffe House opens to the public again on Monday, Dec. 22, and non-members can visit the Maryland Zoo for the discounted winter savings price of $24 from now until Feb. 28, 2026.
