Auckland Zoo welcomed its newest addition in the form of a baby male giraffe that arrived unexpectedly during the early hours of Aug. 21, according to Zoo Borns.
The calf is the first male giraffe that was born there since 2010.
"He took us by surprise," said Nat Sullivan, the team leader of the zoo's Prideland section, according to Stuff New Zealand. "I have a camera at home where I can check on the giraffes when they are in labor and his mother must have gone to a part of the house where I couldn't see."
The zoo's 6-year-old female giraffe Kiraka gave birth to the male calf without the supervision of its zookeepers, even though they tried their best to keep a watchful eye on her labor. The keepers were concerned with the difficulties Kiraka had when she gave birth to her first calf.
"After the first calf she was quite a nervous mum and we weren't too sure how she was going to go this time, but she's really calm and protective when she needs to be, but otherwise pretty chilled," Sullivan said, according to the New Zealand Herald.
The calf has yet to be given a name, as the zookeepers are observing him and looking out for any traits and personalities to appear. He may be introduced to the herd in a few weeks and then be displayed to the public in a month.
Watch the calf take his first steps in the video below:
