April the Giraffe Finally Gives Birth and it's Gnarly!!! (VIDEO) | TMZ.com
THINGS TO KNOW:
April is 15 - her 4th calf
April has never lost a calf nor had a stillborn
Oliver is 5 - his 1st calf
They have some of the largest indoor stalls in the nation (sq ft per animal). We take pride in our indoor housing and the level of enrichment and care to keep them happy and healthy. Unsafe weather and yard conditions may limit their yard access.
The calf will weigh around 150lb and will be about 6' tall at birth.
The front hooves will come out first followed by the snout.
Mom will naturally raise the calf, with weaning could take between 6-10 months, maybe longer. We will not rush this process ? it is just a documented range of captive weaning.
Once the calf is born, we will have a contest to name it.
The keepers will go in with April, clean her pen, give her treats (but not Oliver). He is a bull - and a bull is a bull is a bull!
Giraffes are pregnant for 15 months on average
Upon naturally weaning, the calf will move on to another facility to start a breeding program there. We cannot retain offspring, as it would lead to incestuous mating and undermine the genetics of the program and species.
Those "things" on their heads are called ossicones.
Bulls (male giraffes) only really care about two things- fighting and the unmentionable....
Oliver may share space with April, but for short periods. Bulls take no part in rearing young.
They eat hay and specialized giraffe diet but love romaine lettuce and carrot treats.
April's water source, enrichment, and solo hay feeder are out of sight of the camera view.
This is Animal Adventure's first giraffe calf.