April the giraffe, who resides at Animal Adventure Park in Harpursville, NY, has become a viral sensation as millions of people all over the world anxiously await the birth of her calf.
A waiting game
For the past few weeks, the park has had a live cam available for viewers who want to check on April's status. Each day, hundreds of thousands of people are tuning in to see if April has had her baby, and become antsy when they realize there has been no change. However, according to the park's most recent updates, April has been experiencing significant changes that appear to coincide with the way giraffes typically act when they are about to go into active labor.
You can check out the live cam below.
Updates on April's progress
"Afternoon and evening keeper and vet checks continue to indicate significant changes in April," the Animal Adventure Park shared on their Facebook page on Monday. "Her back end has become significantly larger and relaxed, motion and pulsing in this area has been noted, and discharge has been observed. Ladies and gentlemen - we are close. We are still not confirming active labor, but will state all physical signs are headed in the right direction. "
April the giraffe's behavior throughout the night suggested she needed to be seen by a veterinarian. On Tuesday, the vet arrived and evaluated April and determined that she was the same as when he checked her last night.
"Behavior observed at 4/4:30 am EST did warrant a check of condition," the park's Tuesday morning Facebook update read. "Keeper report indicates April remains in the same condition as observed in earlier overnight checks."
About April
According to the Animal Adventure Park's official website, April is 15 years old and is currently expecting her fourth calf.
The father of the baby, Oliver, 5, also lives at the park, and this will be his first calf, as well as the first to be born at the park. When the baby is born, it is expected that it will weigh approximately 150 pounds, and will stand nearly six foot tall. A contest will be held after the birth to determine the baby giraffe's name.
Have you been keeping tabs on April? When do you think she will give birth? Leave your comments below.
