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Lunar the giraffe prepares to give birth at Port Lympne

by Alice Hamilton

One down, one to go! Animal fans across the globe are staying glued to their screens waiting for the second of two pregnant giraffes in Kent to give birth.

Port Lympne Wildlife Park in Hythe has been live-streaming footage of their giraffe house 24 hours a day, with viewers tuning in from all over the world to wait for the arrivals.

Seven-year-old Lunar, one of the park’s Rothschild giraffes, is due to give birth any day now.

Lunar the giraffe, who's waiting to give birth (2510715)
Lunar the giraffe, who's waiting to give birth (2510715)

Lehana, another Rothschild giraffe, gave birth to a male calf last Thursday. The birth was broadcast live on the park’s Facebook page and on YouTube.

Port Lympne is the latest to join the live-streaming zoo craze.

Last year, more than 1.2 million people watched April the giraffe give birth at a zoo in the United States.

Video: Watch Lunar as she prepares to give birth

The Kent park is offering dedicated viewers a handy guide to telling Lunar and Lehana apart, although Lehana is easy to "spot" - now that she is followed everywhere by her calf.

Calves are born after a 15-month pregnancy. They are usually up and about after only half an hour, and are already over six feet tall when born.

Rothschild giraffes are endangered, with only around 1,600 left in the wild in Kenya and Uganda.

Lehane, who gave birth a week ago (2510713)
Lehane, who gave birth a week ago (2510713)

Port Lympne, one of two wildlife parks run by the Aspinall Foundation, now has nine giraffes, with the new calf bringing the number to 10 once it makes its appearance.

The park is fundraising to build a nursery for the new arrivals. To donate, visit the foundation's donations page.

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