I am stepping away from the live feed. I looked into Animal Adventure Park and it is not accredited. Breeding is probably going on without input from the stud book manager. Without confirmation that it is being managed with conservation science’s best practices, I need to vote with my feet.
For more on accreditation https://www.aza.org/what-is-accreditation
They are currently doing a deep cleaning of the stall. Previously, I have only seen them do this on the weekend.
Do you think April will keep eating through the whole birthing process? She’s really good at it. All this giraffe watching has made me realize that giraffes are the cows of the savanna.
She’s definitely looking antsy and agitated this evening.
I am becoming worried.
She licked the wall for about an hour. She also ate or chewed for an hour lying down.
She has never done either of these things before.
When do they decided that a C section must happen?
Well, maybe licking and chewing lying down is normal giraffe birthing behavior? I have also seen her nibbling at her back. She must be uncomfortable.
From the park’s Facebook page: 3/16. EVENING UPDATE
Keeper report is increased swelling in the backend and significant baby kicks from within. Vet reports all is well and no reason for concern. April is posturing quite a bit which is keeping us on our toes! We will see what the weekend brings.
Thanks !
Most recent April update: April continues to do great. No concerns on our end - and we are anxious to see what the weekend brings! Perhaps a St Patrick’s Day baby?
We received an alarming number of emails again this morning suggesting we didn’t feed the giraffes. In one last desperate plea for those to cease, and explanation - do not worry! The giraffes are cared for every morning, afternoon, and evening without any reminders. Their shared enrichment feeder is not their main food source; and those main sources and their waters are off screen and filled from outside the stalls. Rest easy! Since 2015 we have cared for our long Neck friends without issue or outside input on it.
Anyone else feel badly about the size of their enclosures? I’m still watching, but I have some major mixed feelings on zoos.
I like zoos. I do not like petting zoos. Animal Adventure Park is a petting zoo and not a member of the AZA.
I don’t like zoos or petting zoos but the sad reality is that giraffes are now endangered and on the Red List. As sad as it is to see them in small indoor enclosures during the winter, until conditions change in their natural habitats and we as humans care as much about caring and protecting them in the wild, the ones in captivity are probably better off in terms of continuing the species.
Zoos have been doing important conservation work for years in conjunction with their roles as important (and carefully managed) gene diversity reservoirs for animals whose habitats are under pressure. Many projects are community based developing local skills and economies.
One of the Omaha zoo’s projects:
http://www.omahazoo.com/conservation/conservation-genetics/
“…Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership (MBP), began with the collection of samples and distribution data from the island’s rare flora and fauna. The intent of these collections was to find differences in species distribution and conduct surveys used to identify key habitats with unique diversity. This habitat and animal research helps wildlife agencies & organizations maximize the impact of their conservation efforts, without research endangered populations cannot be managed or protected. Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium’s MBP research has led to the discovery of 21 new lemur species!..”
Columbus Zoo:
https://globalimpact.columbuszoo.org/about/partners-in-conservation
“…Two of the major environmental concerns in Central Africa are the bush meat trade and deforestation, especially where gorillas and other great ape species are concerned. Poverty and a lack of jobs paying a livable wage are also endemic to these areas… often many of the most lucrative “jobs” involve illegal hunting and/or deforestation and the resulting environmental degradation reduces the opportunities for families to escape from poverty.
… PIC approaches conservation in these areas holistically, educating local people about the importance of conservation and giving them alternative means to earn wages that are conservation-friendly…”
Minnesota Zoo:
http://mnzoo.org/conservation/around-world/desert-black-rhino/
“…the Minnesota Zoo’s Conservation Biologist, Jeff Muntifering, is able to work year-round in Namibia’s Kunene Region to save black rhinos. Together with Save the Rhino Trust, he uses science, training and other incentives to help inspire local people to see value in keeping rhino alive.
It all starts with understanding what local people value and then identifying rhino-friendly activities that can directly improve their lives. Many local people have seen how tourism can be a good way to improve lives. They also know that tourists love to see rhinos when they visit Africa. Therefore, many communities want rhino back on their lands for tourism. The government has agreed to release rhino on community lands as long as the local people will look after them. Even though the government still owns the rhino, the idea has helped the local people feel like they own them. This is good for both rhinos and people…”
and a reintroduction success story for wild horses:
http://mnzoo.org/conservation/around-world/true-wild-horse/
“…humans drove them to extinction in the wild by the late 1960s. Thankfully, several organizations were able to rescue some horses before they disappeared entirely. The horses taken into human care are the ancestors of all modern Asian wild horses. Over the next several decades, these animals were bred in human care and their offspring were later released back into the wild. Though still rare, the Asian wild horse is once again running free! Reintroduction efforts in Mongolia and China have been underway since 1992. There have also been small reintroductions in Russia and Ukraine…”
“…The Minnesota Zoo has been involved in saving Asian wild horses since it opened in 1978. Since then, 50 foals have been born at the Minnesota Zoo. In 1990, the Zoo sent a stallion named “Amraa” to the Netherlands. Amraa was chosen to breed a new group of horses that would be released back into the wild. At last count, he had about 196 wild descendants, 82 of which are still alive in Mongolia’s Hustai National Park…”
Poor thing. So restless tonight.
I keep thinking, is there a giraffe dula they can call?
I am hoping the vet has more experience than the keepers.
Update: April got a new sponsor! The cam is sporting a Toys R Us logo. 
And she is still pregnant.
Still watching. Glad they got a new sponsor. I think this week we will see him/her.
I’m beginning to think it’s a phantom pregnancy. That’s what I get for watching every episode of “Call the Midwife”.
It is a “for profit” business so the sponsorship and go fund me page I’m kind of indifferent about.
The margins must be very tight, so without a webcam sponsor, as the TMZ article hinted, the cam could have gone off the air…
I think that was a smart move by Toy R Us since their own logo is a giraffe! I see an April and baby stuffed animal set on the shelves in time for Black Friday!