The world's most anticipated baby giraffe is finally here! April the Giraffe, whose pregnancy has been livestreamed since February, gave birth Saturday morning while at least 1.2 million people watched.
#AprilTheGiraffe Scenes in Trafalgar Square pic.twitter.com/JNURkWRZia
— Thomas Jones (@tomj191) April 15, 2017
This calf is April's fourth, but the first for both the father and Animal Adventure Park in Harpursville, New York. The livestream was briefly taken down from YouTube in February after complaints that it contained nudity and explicit images.
Social media erupted with congratulatory messages:
We did it, internet! We had a giraffe baby together. #AprilTheGiraffe
— Hannah Etchingham (@lesbiancarwash) April 15, 2017
About 45 minutes after birth, the calf tried to stand for the first time - and faceplanted.
#AprilTheGiraffe's new baby
— The GENIUS (@dawoodmajeed45) April 15, 2017
tries to stand up and
faceplants.pic.twitter.com/WCMcukS0pF
Jordan Patch, owner of Animal Adventure Park, said they'd be holding a naming contest, with proceeds going to support giraffe conservation in the wild, giraffe care at Animal Adventure, and "Ava's Little Heroes," an annual fundraiser.
