From adorable rhino calves to darling little elephants, we love hearing about new babies at the zoo. And there’s a precious new addition that has us squealing with delight. Melbourne Zoo has just welcomed the birth of a sweet giraffe calf. This bundle of joy is the first calf to be born at the zoo in almost 20 years.
Giraffe calf at Melbourne Zoo
The giraffe calf was born in Melbourne Zoo on Friday afternoon to first-time mother Nakuru. Nakuru, who went through a 15-month pregnancy, is currently bonding with her unnamed son in the privacy of the barn.
The birth was carefully monitored by keepers via a remote screen. The birth itself was quite quick, with keepers seeing signs late in the afternoon. By 5pm, the calf had made the two-metre drop to the ground.
“Giraffes give birth standing up, so it’s a long way to fall,” said Dr Bonnie McMeekin, Head Vet at Melbourne Zoo. “But falling to the ground is a normal part of the birth process and helps stimulate the calf to start its first breaths.”
The boy has already taken his first steps, and has charmed keepers with his pushed down ossicones, creating a very stylish combover.
Mum and bub are currently bonding privately, and we’ll have more information about the calf in the coming weeks.
If you’d like to visit the zoo in the meantime, you can start planning your trip here.