Giraffe calf

Arnieta, a 5-year-old reticulated giraffe at Brookfield Zoo, gave birth to a male calf in the early afternoon on Nov. 12. They've been off exhibit until this month, when mom and calf can finally be seen indoors in the zoo's Habitat Africa! The Savannah exhibit.

The birth took place in an off-exhibit area. Soon afterwards, the 150-pound, 6-foot-2-inch-tall calf stood and began nursing. Following a 14½-month gestation period, mother giraffes give birth while standing, thus resulting in an approximately five-foot drop delivery for the calf. Within an hour after birth, the calf born at Brookfield Zoo was standing. When fully grown, he could potentially reach 18 feet tall.