COLUMBUS, OH — Move over April, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has a new giraffe calf of its own. The zoo announced Thursday that a male Masai giraffe calf was born healthy Tuesday afternoon. The animal is strong and staying close to his mom.

Visitors on the Open-Air Safari Tour at The Wilds were able to watch the birth — something the zoo called “an unforgettable experience.”

The calf may be visible to guests on both Wildside and Open-Air Safari Tours. An animal care team will continue to monitor how the calf develops over the coming weeks.

The zoo called the birth a “milestone” in a release.

“Welcoming a giraffe calf to our herd is always an incredibly exciting time for our team,” said The Wilds Vice President Dr. Jan Ramer. “Not only is this birth a milestone here at The Wilds, but it also gives us great hope and a foothold to sustain declining populations of this species in their native ranges.”

Giraffes are listed as “vulnerable” on the ICUN Red List of Threatened Species, mainly due to habitat degradation and poaching.

Giraffes have a gestation period of about 15 months. The mother delivers calves standing up. The babies can walk, stand and run within a few hours of birth.

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Male giraffes can grow to be 18 feet tall and weigh up to 4,300 pounds.

Photo credit: Shutterstock