WASHINGTON — April’s calf made its grand entrance into the world shortly before 10 a.m. Saturday, to an audience of over 1.2 million people around the world.
The giraffe’s labor started around 8 a.m. and lasted around two hours, typical of a calf birth, according to zoo officials.
The newly cleaned calf took its first wobbling steps within the hour, and could be seen wobbling around the pen by 11 a.m. Zoo officials later confirmed that the calf was male.
Befitting the arrival of a newborn, the zoo’s sponsor, which had been Toys R Us through the giraffe’s labor, switched over to Babies R Us.
The newborn is April’s fourth calf but Animal Adventure Park’s first giraffe calf. The proud papa, a 5-year-old giraffe named Oliver, watched from an adjacent pen. This is his first offspring.
Watch video of April and her newborn calf.
For more facts and photos of April the giraffe, click through the gallery.
Keep up with all things April on the giraffe’s website, GoFundMe page, apparel line, Twitter feed or Facebook page.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
