The leggy newcomer arrived into the world to new mum Orla, with the joyous scene captured by the zoo’s CCTV cameras, at 11:30pm on Tuesday 12 March.

Footage shows the calf falling from a height of six feet onto a bed of soft straw following a 472 day pregnancy and a labour lasting more than three hours.

The youngster can then be seen stumbling to its feet and suckling from mum for the first time – all within just 30 minutes of being born.

Zookeepers are yet to determine if the two-day old is male or female and have said the calf already weighs more than 70kg and stands at 6 foot tall – but will grow to be more than 18 foot tall and weigh 1,000kg.

Rest of article plus pictures and video

  • MrPibb@lemmynsfw.com
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    9 months ago

    Giraffe calf sees the light of day, freeing its self from its 18 month confine, free falls six feet, lands on its head

    • Patches
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      9 months ago

      Well after 18 months - can you blame Mom? God dam that’s a long time.