Barcelona Zoo welcomes baby Rothschild's giraffe
Visitors witnessed birth of endangered subspecies
Joyous news! The Barcelona Zoo has had the honor of welcoming a baby Rothschild's giraffe into its fold.
On Monday, visitors were able to witness 10-year-old giraffe Nuru give birth to the little one, and mother and newborn will spend a few more days in a special facility before joining the herd.
The Rothschild's giraffe, which is categorized as an endangered subspecies, hails from southern Sudan, northern Uganda, and western Kenya.
Gestation lasts over a year for these creatures, from 450 to 468 days, and unlike other mammals, giraffe's can give birth standing up and even while walking. Calves are born 2 meters tall and grow to be up to 6 meters high.
The Barcelona Zoo, which is part of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, notes that giraffes used to be found all over Africa, but the continent's progressive desertification and poaching have seen their numbers dwindle, meaning that nowadays most large giraffe populations are found in national parks and protected areas.