On 10 February, educational animal park Animal Adventure began a livestream of its pregnant giraffe. It soon went viral as viewers from all around the world tuned in, hoping for a glimpse at the glorious miracle of life.
While the stream spawned theories of an April Fool’s hoax (Animal Adventure were pulling in a lot of cash and also no good thing in 2017 is to be trusted), it turns out our worries were for naught.
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On Saturday, April gave birth to a healthy baby boy — with more than a million people watching.
It all started on Friday when April began pacing, and avid viewers of the stream were quick to notice.
#aprilthegiraffe is really pacing today. Is that a sign? #giraffewatch
— Sonya Afa (@SonyaAfa) April 14, 2017
Could this be it??? All the pacing looks promising! #AprilTheGiraffe
— Sandy Fecci (@SandyFetch) April 14, 2017
But just as things seemed to be picking up, the feed dropped. Viewers were flummoxed.
WHERE. DID. THE. FEED. GO?????? #aprilthegiraffe #NOOOOOOOO
—
Author JM Kelley (@AuthorJMKelley) April 14, 2017
Tail up. Everyone in place. And……live feed goes down.
#aprilthegiraffe — Missy (@MissyAngelTx) April 14, 2017
Then, at 2.45pm on Saturday, April went into labour.
https://t.co/HTSkZMfFYtpic.twitter.com/oPTOmxjvsb
— April The Giraffe (@AprilTheGiraffe) April 15, 2017
Views soared as people rushed to their nearest device to catch a glimpse of the little hooves sticking out of poor old April.
THIS IS NOT A DRILL.
I REPEAT, THIS IS NOT A DRILL.#AprilTheGiraffe is in labor. pic.twitter.com/L8nHPOHT3P— Alexander Ball (@AlexBallster) April 15, 2017
Woo hooo #AprilTheGiraffe is in labor! Hooves are actually OUT, I thought they were just kidding about this baby
— suchaluckygirl (@suchaluckygirI) April 15, 2017
#AnimalAdventurePark#AprilTheGiraffepic.twitter.com/M8G1grxSsP
— April The Giraffe (@AprilTheGiraffe) April 15, 2017
And just a few minutes before 5pm, April gave her final push.
WELCOME TO THE WORLD NUGGET!!!! #AprilTheGiraffepic.twitter.com/GUgfJHXbDX
— olivia (@livchipz) April 15, 2017
After a few hours of adorable face-planting, the 6-foot-tall newborn finally found his feet.
#AprilTheGiraffe and baby. First steps right into a face plant. Ouch! pic.twitter.com/8NQaIWd9GL
— Mary Mammoliti (@MaryMamms) April 16, 2017
Up and moving
! pic.twitter.com/RtAc8SBG6G — April The Giraffe (@AprilTheGiraffe) April 15, 2017
Baby Boy giraffe face plant, learning to walk when you are six feet tall is tough. #AprilTheGiraffepic.twitter.com/EnKRnqvMvt
— Kristin yates (@kyates_kristin) April 15, 2017
According to YouTube, Animal Adventure’s stream became the “second most live-viewed channel in the history of YouTube despite launching a mere 66 days ago.”
In total, the channel accrued 232-million live views and 7.6-billion minutes of live watch-time total.
April the giraffe, a resident of educational animal park Animal Adventure, broke all sorts of YouTube records this weekend
The actual birth saw 1.2-million simultaneous live views, making the moment one of the top five most-watched for a live event ever.
The channel also became the fifth fastest channel to reach 200-million channel views, placing April behind the likes of Lady Gaga and Zayn. It is also the fastest channel to garner 100 million live views — and is one of only seven who have done so.
So what’s next for this beautiful giraffe family?
For now, Animal Adventure are using their fame to let people pay to vote for the name of the calf. Proceeds go towards wild giraffe conservation efforts, a foundation that helps families through “unexpected medical journeys and expenses,” as well as towards the upkeep of the park itself.
Any bets on Giraffey McGiraffeFace?
Calf continues to grow stronger! We experienced a 1-1 1/2 lb weight gain over night. We are smitten! pic.twitter.com/RLmMUc1zsP
— April The Giraffe (@AprilTheGiraffe) April 18, 2017
