What to Know
- April has captivated tens of millions of people across the world who have been checking in on her via the live stream
- Giraffe pregnancies last up to 15 months; labor lasts anywhere from a few hours to a few days
- The calf will be the first born at Animal Adventure Park, and the zoo says it will hold a contest to name it once it arrives
After a day of "judo chops" inside April the giraffe's belly, the highly anticipated giraffe calf calmed down significantly on Saturday, the zoo said.
But is this the calm before the labor? Only time will tell.
"Baby has settled down compared to yesterday's continued judo chop marathon," the zoo wrote on its Facebook page.
However, on Saturday evening one of her teats didn't produce milk, even though it did the day before, her keepers said.
"She keeps us guessing - she keeps in growing!!" the zoo said on its Facebook page.
During a quick check-up, April got some snacks while the vet examined her and took photos of her backside and udders.
The staff also fed April some carrots -- handing them out right next to the camera for the immensely popular livestream. That gave viewers a hilarious close-up look at the pregnant giraffe's tongue and long neck.
The snow has cleared so April and her beau Oliver may go outside Sunday, the zoo said.
More than 100,000 people tuned into the Animal Adventure Park's live stream Saturday afternoon as April swished her tail and paced around her pen.
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Watch the live stream below.
The zoo said that April's belly growth from last week is mind-blowing. She has to fit a 6-foot, 150-pound calf somewhere, it said. Eventually, it has to come out, right?
April's pregnancy was catapulted into global headlines late last month after YouTube briefly yanked the zoo's stream following complaints by animal activists that it violated the site's policies concerning "nudity and sexual content." Thousands upon thousands of commenters voiced their frustration on Facebook and YouTube, and the stream was restored within an hour or so.
Jordan Patch, owner of the Animal Adventure Park, says the natural curiosity surrounding giraffes and their birthing process has been a huge factor in drawing crowds.
"I think the fact that she's a giraffe and she's a neat species that people are interested in, that's fostered a lot of the attention," he said. "The fact that you're gonna get to witness the miracle of birth from an animal that you really don't get to see give birth — that's neat."
He added that April's pregnancy is not just live entertainment, but a teachable moment and source for education.
Three Baby Giraffes Born at Six Flags in New Jersey as Giraffe Pregnancy Captivates World
Giraffe pregnancies last up to 15 months. Labor lasts anywhere from a few hours to a few days. The calf, which will be the first born at Animal Adventure Park, will be about 150 pounds and 6 feet tall at birth and up and walking in about an hour.
The zoo said it will hold an online competition to name the baby giraffe once it's born.
