A ranger with Wild Eye recently witnessed a remarkable moment in the wild.
In a recent YouTube upload by Latest Sightings, ranger Johan Van Zyl shared footage and the story of witnessing a baby giraffe take its first steps, minutes after being born.
“While out on a drive, we spotted a female giraffe, and we could immediately tell that something was different about her. Her body language and movements were unusual. As we approached, we discovered that she was in the process of giving birth—something that is rarely seen, let alone captured on camera.”
“We watched her for a while, giving her space and not adding any extra stress. This is important because female giraffes are extremely vulnerable when giving birth. They are unable to defend themselves during this process. So, they are under a lot of stress, not only for their safety but also for the safety of their newborn baby.”
“The process took around 45 minutes to an hour, and we were able to witness the entire birth. First, the newborn’s legs emerged from the mother, and bit by bit, the rest of the body became visible. As it came to an end, we could see the relief on the mother’s face, and with a loud thump, out came this tiny newborn giraffe.”
“We watched as the little one struggled to stand, wobbling and falling over. This was incredibly cute and heartwarming for everyone to see. New life had been witnessed, and it was amazing to see how active the little calf was from the start.”
“The mother tried to nudge the baby and assist it in standing, and this continued for around an hour. After all the failed attempts, the calf eventually stood on its own. Being born with long legs and a long neck is no easy task. But it managed to eventually stand, with some help from its mother.”
“At this point, we waited until it took its first steps, and that’s when we decided to leave and offer the mother and baby some well-deserved space. Being considerate and ethical about these moments is crucial, as added stress on either of the two could be negative. So, we left with warm hearts and smiles all around for being able to witness this incredible moment.”
