In a long-anticipated event that caused nearly two million people to suddenly think, “Oh, so that’s what a giraffe’s vagina looks like,” all at once, New York-based zoo animal and internet celebrity April The Giraffe has finally given birth. April’s 16-month adventures in gestation have become a popular online attraction in recent months, both because giraffes are listed as “vulnerable” by extinction trackers, and also because people are naturally curious about how does any of that even work, vis-à-vis parts?
Pretty efficiently, apparently: Despite the fact that her calf weighed something on the order of 150 pounds, and stood 6 foot tall at birth, April’s delivery was a textbook giraffe calving affair. Which is to say, the calf fell out head-first, an initial plummet that “breaks the amniotic sac, severs the umbilical cord, and encourages the calf to take its first breaths,” because apparently giraffes are incredibly hardcore.
The calf—a boy—is happily up and about. He’s yet to be named, although April’s home park, Animal Adventure, is reportedly putting together a GoFundMe account where people can vote for $1 a pop. The calf will stay with April and its father for six to 12 months, and then be moved to another facility for safety reasons.