April The Giraffe Having Back End Swell
April the giraffe was a bit more "off" and agitated Tuesday as her labor continues to get delayed while millions are glued to a live feed to see her give birth. In an evening update on the Animal Adventure Park's Facebook page, which is followed by more than 850,000 people, the keeper reported April was facing "some serious back end swell and pulse today."
The 15-year-old giraffe, who is housed in the upstate New York zoo, gained fame after the park authorities decided to livestream the animal giving birth to its fourth calf. Earlier Tuesday, the park said April's belly swelled and the calf is sticking out.
"So if you were watching me in with her this evening (6:30ish) you would have seen a fairly cranky giraffe... you also would have seen me in there with a little white box looking thing. This is my doppler. Over the past few weeks I've been trying to desensitize her to seeing, hearing and being touched by it. It's easy to forget that she is a big and dangerous creature, you have to be real careful with how far you push them," the vet who came to check April Tuesday said in the latest update.
The zoo said Tuesday it had brought new items into the giraffes holding Tuesday to keep them occupied.
“This morning around 10 am - we will be moving enrichment items into camera view for our guests to see some of the activity that keeps our giraffes' interest. We replaced older items thank to your contributions! Boat Buoys and bumpers are not inexpensive!” they wrote. “Anytime we change or alter something in their giraffes' space - you will see their curiosity come to life. With this curious trait, we bring forward our caution. Giraffes can and do get themselves into trouble with their curious nature which can prove fatal. We will watch these new enrichment items the next few days to ensure they are in fact ‘giraffe proof.’”
April, who is expecting her first child with 5-year-old mate Oliver, is yet to go into "active labor" despite being due for weeks. When the calf is born, there will be a vote to determine his or her name. Watch the live stream of April giving birth here.
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