Baby Giraffe Born At Cincinnati Zoo, Name To Be Picked On Facebook (VIDEO/ PHOTO)

The Cincinnati Zoo saw its first giraffe birth in 26 years this weekend.

Zoo officials announced today that the calf, which is currently unnamed, is a girl, according to Fox 9. The name of the baby giraffe will actually be selected from suggestions solicited on the Zoo's Facebook page.

The baby's mother, a 1,800-pound Maasai giraffe named Tessa, was the first giraffe to give birth in the zoo in 26 years, according to NPR. Apparently it took days to determine the calf's sex because researchers did not want to interfere with its bonding process.

The baby likely weighs close to 100 pounds, but is yet to be weighed.

WATCH (WARNING: The video contains footage of the giraffe's birthing process):

The newborn giraffe with its mother, from the Associated Press:

Comments

[8doggone]

04:12 PM on 04/14/2011

The birth is disgusting but not the baby. if it is a girl i suggest Mary longlegs or Kierra. If it is a boy i think Jordan or Sam is good.

[riversidejsb]

01:05 PM on 04/07/2011

great! photos from Dave:
we would like to suggest the name:
Akira

[riversidejsb]

01:01 PM on 04/07/2011

She is a beautiful little girl...I suggest:
Akira

[lburnham]

08:59 AM on 04/07/2011

So that's why giraffes are born with such long necks. Their mothers have long legs.

[dna user]

04:07 AM on 04/07/2011

Chewbacca Jr.

[mlaiuppa]

02:43 AM on 04/06/2011

She is a little darling. Pretty as her Momma.

[Eileen Schulte]

12:48 AM on 04/06/2011

How 'bout Stretch Armstrong or Daddy Longlegs or Longneck Brewsky?

[Eileen Schulte]

01:19 AM on 04/06/2011

Or better yet, Vera the Vegetarian

[mlaiuppa]

02:44 AM on 04/06/2011

How about Leslie since Leslie Caron was in Daddy Longlegs?

[Eileen Schulte]

03:00 AM on 04/06/2011

Or how 'bout Leslie Longlegs?

[Robert Turner]

12:24 AM on 04/06/2011

So far, the choices submitted on Facebook are Stretch Fucklulz and Justin Bieber.

[Brown Buddha]

12:07 AM on 04/06/2011

I call her Nessie the long neck monster

[Diane Sciacca]

12:04 AM on 04/06/2011

Why are you warning people about the birthing footage? It's a natural part of life and harmless. Do you want people to be afraid of life and nature?

[3Nox]

02:11 AM on 04/06/2011

That's exactly what I thought.

[dim]

03:54 PM on 04/07/2011

Because George W. Bush may be eating a pretzel which watching the video.

[antonymous]

11:52 PM on 04/05/2011

Why don't we save the kids the disappointment and just name it after Stephen Colbert now?

[dekadente81]

11:38 PM on 04/05/2011

"Paco" sounds good.

[RButler]

11:23 PM on 04/05/2011

Is 'Stilts' a good name for a girl? 

[Rob Halpin]

09:13 PM on 04/05/2011

How tragic that this beautiful animal was born inside a concrete bunker, instead of in the wild.

[crparke]

09:35 PM on 04/05/2011

There's a pride of lions somewhere who couldn't agree more.

[Dean Praetorius]

12:03 AM on 04/06/2011

This may be the best comment I've seen in a month.

[Red45]

08:57 PM on 04/06/2011

Funny gets you fans.

[viktorelnasty]

06:02 PM on 04/05/2011

If Its A Boy It Should Be "Charlie" Or Carlos And If Its A Girl It Should Be Donna.lol haha