ANIMALS
Sacramento Zoo’s Shani The Giraffe Gives Birth To Healthy Female Calf
A female giraffe calf was finally born Sunday at the Sacramento Zoo in California, after mother Shani had been under maternity watch for several days.
Shani was moved to the maternity stall of the giraffe barn on Jan. 18 when zookeepers noticed signs of an impending birth. But the birth didnt happen when they thought it would.
“Although animal care and veterinary teams were suspicious that she might still be pregnant, just not on her original timeline, there were no definitive signs until very recently,” the zoo said in a statement Monday.
The calf was finally born at 12:28 p.m. on Sunday, and zookeepers say she is healthy and nursing well.
Photos shared by the zoo show mother and baby getting to know each other in the giraffe barn. The pair will be mostly out of view while bonding over the next few weeks, but zoo visitors may be able to catch a glimpse of them at their habitats side yard.
