If you were looking for the giraffe at the zoo on Tuesday, you just had to follow the "oohs" and "aahs." The crowd was cooing over the female baby giraffe, born two and half weeks ago and out on display for the first time.
"It was very 'giraffey,'" said Eric Hennigsen of Charlottesville, Virginia. "It was like a mini-giraffe."
Mom Stella carried her baby for 14 months and gave birth to her in the middle of the night.
Giraffes give birth standing, which means the calf tumbled six feet down to the ground.
"The baby was born on July 17th. We came in the next morning and found here there," said zookeeper Betsey Karkowski. "She was already standing up!"
The baby giraffe is now about the same size as it was at birth - five and half feet tall and 100 pounds.
While that sounds pretty big, it's actually tiny for giraffes. That is why dad Gus is kept separate from the calf, so he doesn't accidentally harm it.
But inside the pen, zookeepers say they see daddy and baby regularly nuzzle through their enclosures.
"You definitely see Gus kissing the baby quite a bit," Karkowski said.
Going to see the baby giraffe is a lesson in patience - It might be hiding inside. However, if you're lucky, you might see the little beauty nursing, frolicking or staring back at you.
"You'll kind of have to come and, as you're at the zoo, take a couple of passes by to see her," said Karkowski. "You'll need to spend some time in front of the exhibit."
All the baby giraffe needs now is a name! CLICK HERE to visit the zoo's website and vote for your choice!
