Birth Of Baby Giraffe Gives Disney Tourists Rare Thrill

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL — Some lucky tourists at Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom got a once-in-a-lifetime thrill Monday as they witnessed the birth of a baby giraffe along the Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction.

Disney officials said Tuesday that the Masai giraffe calf measured six feet but it's too soon to tell the sex.

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"It is too early to tell the gender but the calf is already bonding well with mom, Mara, and is out on view to guests," according to park officials.

"I can’t believe it," remarked Wendy Fox on social media. I was on the Wild Africa Trek and saw this happen."

Lauren Hrobat said she saw the calf's legs poking out as it was being born.

Kaylee Hauesler said her safari was held up briefly during the birth of the new giraffe.

"We were held up for about 10 minutes," she said on social media. "We got the drive by just minutes after it was born. So cool."

Photo courtesy Walt Disney World