Millions of eyes have been on April the Giraffe over the past few months, and this weekend was a big one for her. April is the proud new mom of a healthy baby calf.
Owner Jordan Patch says April and her baby are doing excellent. The calf stands at 5 feet 9 inches tall, and gained a few pounds overnight, so it's at about 131 pounds.
During Aprils' birth, the live stream had more than a million viewers. Patch says when he started the park 5 years ago, his goal was to simply give the community an educational opportunity -- and of course, a bit of fun. But now he's happy to know he'll be helping the area even more.
"Now five years later, here we are making a significant financial impact on our community,” Patch said. "There's going to be residual income coming on for months, if not years, based on the fan-ship and travel to Broome County."
The public how has the chance to name the calf. You can head to AprilTheGiraffe.com, and your $1 donation will go to support giraffe conservation efforts, as well as children suffering from illnesses in the area.