April's keepers said the pregnant giraffe has a big appetite right now.
Here's the latest update Thursday night from her keepers at Animal Adventure Park:
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Allysa has reported that April has quite an appetite this evening! This is after a few days of picking at grain and hay. We have been told by other parks that mothers will sometimes feast just before the birth. Who knows and here is to hoping! Behavior was very typical at first, but shifted during Allysa's time with her. This is not a bad thing, just adds another piece to our puzzle.
Weather has taken a horrible turn here. Rain and cold...and more rain. Mild flooding is occurring along the rivers, we will prep the ark. Giraffes will remain indoors until conditions are agreeable.
Here's an update from Wednesday night:
Corey noted some changes this evening. April's backend has some significant "bulging" occurring ... She was very "with it" but then became very distracted and as Corey put it, "would have walked right through me". Though sounding intimidating; this behavior is what we will see - consistently - when in active labor. She will walk through her strong contractions and push push push.
All else is well and fresh air and the outdoors was enjoyed at length today!
Background from AP:
A pregnant giraffe has its own website, a GoFundMe page, an apparel line and millions of people worldwide watching live-streaming video waiting for it to give birth.
The 15-year-old long-legged YouTube star, named April, is expected to give birth any time now in her enclosed pen at the Animal Adventure Park in Harpursville, rural upstate village 130 miles northwest of New York City.
Since the privately owned zoo's giraffe cam began live-streaming video from April's enclosure last month, the feed has totaled more than 15 million views on YouTube as people around the world check on the status of April's 15-month pregnancy.
"Instead of local or regional we're global," said Cortney Whalen, a spokeswoman for zoo owner Jordan Patch. "It has definitely broadened the general awareness of the park."
In videos posted on the park's Facebook page this week, Patch has said that he's been busy tending to his 200-plus other animals and that the flood of emails has become "so overbearing" that he's asking people to stop sending them.
A GoFundMe page set up for April, giraffe father Oliver and their calf has raised more than $100,000 out of a goal of $50,000. Whalen said the park also has received separate donations, but she said she didn't know how much. All the money will be used to feed, house and care for the giraffes.
April's website, aprilthegiraffe.com, includes a link for buying apparel from baby clothing to adult-sized hoodies imprinted with a giraffe's head and "#Aprils View Crew" along with the park's name and location.
The park's live stream was interrupted briefly when YouTube pulled the feed after someone reported the images contained explicit material and nudity. Patch blamed "a handful of extremists and animal rights activists" for the interruption.
Giraffes can be in labor anywhere from hours to a full day. April was elsewhere when she gave birth to her first three calves, and this one will be the Harpursville zoo's first giraffe calf. Patch plans to hold an online naming competition for the baby after it's born.
- April is 15 – her 4th calf
- Oliver is 5 – his 1st calf
- The calf will weigh around 150lb and will be about 6′ tall at birth
- Giraffes are pregnant for 15 months
- Those “things” on their heads are called ossicones
- This is Animal Adventure’s first giraffe calf