The Cincinnati Zoo in Ohio is making history by offering a 24‑hour livestream of giraffe Tessa’s upcoming birth. Zoo director Dave Jenike says the calf could arrive as early as today or as late as next week, prompting the zoo to activate a continuous birth‑watch operation.
Volunteer monitoring and labor signs
Forty‑eight volunteers, including longtime supporters Dave and Linda Stentz, have signed up for four‑hour night shifts to watch the indoor and outdoor camera feeds. “The first thing you’re looking for is Tessa sticking her tail straight out. Next will be hooves sticking out,” Dave Stentz explained.
Other labor indicators include stretching, straining, tossing her head side‑to‑side, loss of appetite, and pacing. Giraffes normally graze constantly, so a sudden drop in eating is noticeable. However, staff note that sometimes there are no obvious signs until the tail and legs appear, as happened with a previous birth.
Preparation for the newborn
When the calf is born, it will drop about six feet to the ground. The care team will spread bedding on the floor to cushion the fall. Volunteers say they can be up at 3 a.m. in pajamas, watching the monitor, ready to assist.
The zoo encourages the public to watch the live feeds, which are available on the Cincinnati Zoo website, to share in this rare moment of wildlife wonder.
Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.
