Brookfield Zoo Baby Giraffe Makes Debut (PHOTOS)

PHOTOS: Brookfield Zoo Debuts Most Adorable Baby Giraffe

In what appears to be an arms race of cuteness, the Brookfield Zoo announced the birth of male giraffe calf less than two days after the Lincoln Park Zoo debuted an adorable baby girl gorilla.

The calf was born early last week on Nov. 12 to Arnieta, a 5-year-old reticulated giraffe at Brookfield Zoo, according to a statement released by the Chicago Zoological Society.

(See below for photos of the newest zoo baby.)

Standing 6-foot-2-inch-tall, according to Brookfield Zoo, the giraffe weighed 140 pounds at birth and quickly began nursing and bonding after his arrival. His 14 1/2 month gestation period culminated with a five foot drop, as Arnieta, like all giraffes, gave birth standing up.

The yet-to-be-named male calf is the 58th giraffe born at Brookfield Zoo, according to a statement, and marks three generations of giraffes born to the Chicagoland zoo.

While the newborn calf is a healthy addition to Brookfield's giraffe fold, the zoo says there are fewer than 5,000 reticulated giraffes left in their native East Africa.

Brookfield Zoo's Newest Baby

Brookfield Zoo's Baby Giraffe

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot