April the giraffe gives birth
After 15 long months and a highly-publicised pregnancy, April from New York’s Animal Adventure Park has given birth to her fourth calf.
New York Animal Adventure park had set up a live-stream video of April’s pregnancy and 1.2 million viewers were tuned in to watch the labour unfold.
Within an hour of being born, the healthy 129-pound calf was up and standing at 5’9.
Giraffes go through labour upright which means that the newborn calf had roughly a six-foot drop to the floor when it was born.
Animal Adventure Park owner Jordan Patch warned viewers on social media when staff realised there were signs of imminent birth on Saturday.
He said “"It's happening! We are in labour 100% Cancel your plans, it's time to have a baby!"
Jordan later said in a press release, "His entrance into the world was unnerving to even those of us who have witnessed animal births previously.”
April’s labour started at around 7:45 am, the park went live at 8am and then the birth happened at 9:50am.
The newborn calf hasn’t been named yet but the Animal Adventure Park has created an online vote to name him. Votes are $1 US and the funds will go to the Giraffe Conservation Fund and Ava’s Little Heroes which is a foundation that supports families of children who are suffering from complex illnesses.