Seattle's New Baby Giraffe Treated For Leg Abnormalities

SEATTLE, WA — The giraffe born this week at Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo has been diagnosed with leg abnormalities, and is undergoing medical treatment to fix the problem, zoo officials say.

The giraffe was born around 5 a.m. Thursday to mom Olivia, 12, and dad Dave, 6. Usually, baby giraffes are able to walk and even run with their mother shortly after birth. The new giraffe was able to do that, but vets at Woodland Park noticed something wasn't right.

"We noticed right away that each rear foot was not in normal alignment, a condition known as hyperextended fetlocks," Woodland Park Zoo animal health director Dr. Darin Collins said in a statement. "We have applied casts on both rear legs to help heal the tendons, which is the current best practice in treating this condition in newborns. Treatment will most likely span over several months."

The baby boy is in guarded condition. His health is otherwise normal, zoo officials said.

This is the second giraffe born at Woodland Park Zoo in recent years. Another giraffe, Tufani, gave birth to Lulu in 2017. The newest addition does not have a name yet, but the zoo is planning to hold a naming contest.