On Wednesday, a five-year-old giraffe at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden gave birth to a healthy calf. And based on a remarkable shot, the little one was not just receiving love and care from mother Cece but also from other female herd members, Jambo and Tessa.
On Wednesday, a five-year-old giraffe at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden gave birth to a healthy calf.
And based on a remarkable shot, the little one was not just receiving love and care from mother Cece but also from other female herd members, Jambo and Tessa.
In the photo posted to the zoo's Facebook page, the three females can be seen gazing curiously and gently touching the newborn, reminding us how animals and humans are similar in many fundamental aspects of life.
According to a press release, the calf "...weighs approximately 100 pounds and towers over most of its keepers!"
The release explains part of the birthing process, "after nearly 15 months of gestation, a baby giraffe drops to the ground head first! The fall and the landing do no hurt the calf, but they do cause it to take a big breath. To prepare for the birth, keepers added 6-8 inches of sawdust in Cece’s indoor stall and placed hay on top of large rubber mats to cushion the calf’s fall and to provide excellent footing for the calf once it began to stand."
If you aren't experiencing giraffe cuteness overload yet, the newborn even has a heart shaped beauty spot, notes the zoo.
