Cincinnati Zoo livestreams birth for first time
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Tessa, a 14-year-old Masai giraffe, is expecting her fifth calf. Photo: Courtesy of Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden/Lisa Hubbard
Forget reality TV. The Cincinnati Zoo has a new show worth watching, and the star could go into labor at any moment.
Driving the news: Tessa, a 14-year-old Masai giraffe, is expecting her fifth calf, and for the first time in its history, the zoo is livestreaming an animal birth.
- Two cameras let fans around the world keep tabs on Tessa, whether she's hanging out in her stall or roaming outside.
- "It really could be any day," zoo spokesperson Michelle Curley tells Axios.
Tune in: Watch the indoor livestream, which could capture the birth itself, or the outdoor camera.
- Animal care staff can turn off the cameras at their discretion, though the zoo says the goal is to show as much of the birth as possible.
Behind the scenes: Volunteers Dave and Linda Stentz are keeping watch overnight for signs of labor.
- First clue? Tessa's tail sticking straight out.
- And, as the zoo helpfully points out, a pair of tiny hooves is a pretty good giveaway, too.
Flashback: The zoo was the first to live tweet a giraffe birth in 2012. The mom? Tessa, of course.
- Fiona the hippo also became an internet sensation after her premature birth in 2017.
The bigger picture: The zoo hopes all those eyeballs on Tessa will also draw attention to giraffes in the wild, where habitat loss and poaching threaten their survival.
What's next: Once the calf arrives, fans can join a special giraffe ADOPT program for a chance to win naming rights.
- The program supports giraffe care and conservation, with details coming after the birth.