Giraffe calf born at Abilene Zoo Friday
The Abilene Zoo giraffe herd has a new addition with a calf born at 1:50 p.m. Friday.
This is the third calf born to 11-year-old Jamie, the zoo said in a news release. The father is Congo.
The herd now numbers nine, and another is on the way, said zoo spokesman Clay Carabajal.
About 30 minutes after being born in the giraffe barn, the calf stood up and is about 6 feet tall.
The animal care team plans to do a hands-on assessment Saturday, but the staff believes the calf is a female, the release said.
The calf's name will be determined later.
The three calves born about 18 months ago are doing well, Carabajal said, including Edward, whose mother died a few weeks after his birth. Those three calves are just tall enough to be fed lettuce by zoo guests on the elevated giraffe viewing tower.
Updates on the latest newborn will be posted on the zoo's Facebook and other social media accounts.
Other recent animal births at the zoo include a steenbok lamb, or small antelope, earlier this month and rare twins born to a giant anteater in April.
More: Abilene Zoo staff making progress in feeding orphaned giraffe Edward
More: Abilene Zoo updates possible cause of giraffe death, how orphan calf Edward is doing
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Abilene Zoo giraffe herd grows with birth of calf
