HARPURSVILLE, N.Y. — Zookeepers at an upstate New York zoo say there are noticeable bulges on April the Giraffe’s side as she prepares to give birth.
Zookeepers also report increased calf activity and said April’s appetite is strong and her demeanor is good.
This is April’s fourth calf, and the first for her 5-year-old mate Oliver.
April has developed a following since the zoo initially began live streaming her preparing to give birth on Feb. 23. Hundreds of thousands of people check the stream daily to see if April has given birth.
The videos were initially cut short as people flagged them as “sexually explicit.”
Giraffes can be in labor anywhere from two to six hours. Once the calf begins to show, it should be out in under an hour.
Giraffes are pregnant for 15 months, according to Animal Adventure Park. The calf will weigh around 150 pounds and be approximately 6-feet-tall at birth.
Once the calf is born, the zoo will hold a contest to name it.
The zoo has also launched a GoFundMe campaign to offset the annual care of the giraffes and has also established a website for April.
