It’s a girl! Dorchester’s newest resident is a female giraffe calf born last Thursday morning inside a barn at Franklin Park Zoo. After a labor and delivery that lasted about an hour, Jana the giraffe gave birth to a calf that was standing an hour later. The baby giraffe, who has not yet been named, weighs 160 pounds and stands six feet tall. Since 2006, Jana and her mate Beau have had five successful births including the new calf. The pair are also grandparents as well, with offspring at zoos in the eastern United States.

“We are so thrilled to share the news of this exciting birth,” said John Linehan, Zoo New England President and CEO. “Jana is an experienced mother and she is doing everything a mother giraffe should do. As with any new birth, we are continuing to monitor the mother and baby closely. So far, everything is going smoothly and we are looking forward to when visitors will be able to see the baby on exhibit with her mother.”