FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT APRIL AND HER NEWBORN CALF
INTERNET STAR:
More than 1.2 million viewers watched the birth in real time thanks to a livestream which began from April's enclosure in February. People around the world have been tuning in daily.
WORTH THE WAIT:
Giraffes have one of the longest gestation periods of any animal, about 15 months. Newborn giraffes generally weigh about 68kg and are about 6 feet (1.83 metres) tall at birth.
MAY-DECEMBER MATING:
The yet-to-be-named baby is the fourth calf for 15-year-old April. The father, Oliver, who watched the birth from an adjacent pen, is a first-time father at the age of five. Male giraffes don't help raise their young.
GOODBYE AFTER WEANING:
The zoo's owner says the newborn will stay with April until he is weaned, which can take six months or longer. The calf will then move on to another zoo to prevent incestuous mating.
NO VISITORS YET:
Animal Adventure is in rural Harpursville, New York. It is closed and will open to the public in next month.
