HARPURSVILLE, N.Y. — One of the most beloved giraffes in the world is pregnant again.
Jordan Patch, owner of Animal Adventure Park, announced Wednesday morning that April is pregnant once again. The calf is expected in early spring 2019.
This announcement comes after some hints from caretakers: In June, after 30 days of sample collections, staff at the zoo said they had sent the fecal samples to a laboratory for progesterone testing. The following analysis confirmed the suspicions of the giraffe’s handlers.
April the Giraffe ignited a worldwide social media frenzy in 2017 when the heavily pregnant animal kept the world on edge during the final weeks of her pregnancy. On April 15, 2017, more than one million viewers tuned in to Animal Adventure Park’s live Giraffe Cam to watch April give birth to a healthy male calf. He was named Tajiri.
Patch said he is elated to share this pregnancy announcement with the world.
“Giraffes are currently listed as ‘vulnerable to extinction’ by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature,” he said. “At Animal Adventure Park, our top priority is preserving these beautiful, majestic creatures and increasing awareness of the threat giraffes are facing. April’s prior pregnancy facilitated an immeasurable amount of education and appreciation for giraffes. We’re very proud of our captive management and propagation program and eager to continue doing all we can to help bring this species awareness and tangible results towards conservation.”
April’s fans will once again be able to follow her pregnancy journey via social media.
