The Portland daily press., 1889-10-28

The Only BABY Giraffe ever born In
America.

cincinnati Commercial, Gazettel
There is Joy at the Zoo.
The long expected sensation has at last
materialized.
The only giraffe ever born in captivity first
saw the light at 10 O'Clock yesterday morning
In the winter quarters of the CRATES and ele.
plants at the Geological Garden. 1t is an
event that has been awaited with intense
interest, not only by the Zoo management,
but by people interested in zoology abroad,
particularly in the gardens of Berlin. Paris
LOddOn and Hamburg.
Thirteen years ago the Zoo Directors
bought at Hamburg a pair of young CRATES
Superintendent Stephan, then head keeper
was told that if he kept them alive and well
Tor SIX months the Directors would be salts.
ned with the purchase. They have not
missed iced for thirteen years. They AT.
tanned their full growth about four years ago
me male was christened "Abe Lincoln" lie
+ known throughout this country and
europe as the largest giraffe ever held In
captivity. With his head he towers eighteen
above the ground. The female, Daisy" is
about twelve inches below the majestic
height of her liege lord, and she is the tallest
animal OF her sex on exhibition. Yesterday
she was the proudest, too, as she looked down
with her great, soft, beautiful eyes on her
offspring-the only one ever born in America
while hen giant husband tenderiy looked over
the high partition that separated them and
gently licked her face.
For some months back 1t has been apparent
that Daisy" was "as women wish to be who
love their lords" and that highly interesting
fact was the subject of much comment; Of
hope mingled with fear that she might not
safely 60 through the ordeal. The two are
the only pair of giraffes in the United States,
and so highly are they valued by others that
frOl orb Ice nrrn rnfN No rlr
offered $4,000 for them last year.
The period during which giraffe carries
her young has never been known exactly,
but has been estimated at little over thir-
DAISY" makes it a little short of fourteen
months.
For two or three weeks there has been an
experienced keeper in her company day and
night. Her most devoted attendant, next to
the Superintendent was Ed Coyne, the ele.
phant and giraffe keeper. Both he and
Superintendent Stephan were on the ground
yesterday morning when there were unmis-
taxable evidences that the little stranger
not so little either-was about to put in an
app aranee. A telephone message was sent
to Mr.. A. E. Burkhardt, the President of the
gardens, who hurried from his Avondale
residence, and reached the gardens in time
t. be present at the unique acc0uchment.
Instinct did not prompt Daisy to lie down as
one would naturally suppose, but after quite
long period OF labor, in which Superinten-
Stephan exerted all his skill as an dccoucheur
to wild animals, she was safely delivered
standing. The young. who came into the
weird with his two fore feet first, followed
BY the head and long neck, was gently
placed on bed Of straw. 1t was only a
hort time when he, Strengthened out the
long neck and looked wonderingly with his
great mellow eyes at the half dozen people
who returned the look with equal wonder
Before he was three hours old he was able to
stand on his feet aud vigorously at nursing
bottle held by keeper Coyne, who temporarily
supplied the place Of his mother. DAISY"
showed disposition to lick and fondle the
new conner, but did not seem to know how to
allow him to get his natural sustenance.
The youngSter measured when standing
erect five feet six inches, and his weight was
estimated by lifting at about one hundred
and thirty pounds: He appeared perfectly
formed, sound and lively, and developed a
yigor' us appetite for the nursing bottle.
Barring little shakiness in the legs, and a
lighter tint to the beautiful fawn-colOred
spots, he is the image of bis ma. In place of
the bony protuberance like horns on the
has couple OF tufts of what looks like
coarse black silk thread.
AS Daisy" did not seem to have sense
enough TO nurse her baby properly it was
determined to separate him from her for the
present by temporary partition. through
MuiCis nuWcfct, sut Cdu pldlUly SEE MIN.
1t is thought that in day or two she will
know how to treat him. Another reason for
the separation is that the Enclosure is small
and in tramping about, with her giant strid =
and huge sharp hoofs, she might accidentally
step on the youngster.
The giraffe house was closed to visitors
Yesterday although hundreds hung about
the entrance, hoping to get chance to see
the wonderful little stranger; but it was
thought best for the present to keep both
mother and son as quiet as possible, but as
both are in such perfect health, there will be
nothing In the way of exhibiting them after
last nights rest, and they will be on ex.
hibition in the giraffe house today.
While President Burkhardt was in Europe
last August, he found much interest mani
tested by the officers of the Berlin. Paris and
London gardens in the prospect of the birth
of giraffe in Cincinnati. He was requested
to keep them promptly advised If it was born
alive and well, and yesterday he complied
with the request sending the good news by
~ hIa m ha thraa aitioc