Giraffe’s baby bump boosts tiny zoo’s upkeep, conservation
April the giraffe has brought a bundle to a tiny zoo in rural upstate New York, thanks to a YouTube video livestream of her pregnancy and birth of an incredibly cute calf that has riveted viewers around the world.
Owners of the for-profit Animal Adventure Park won’t say exactly how much they’ve pulled in from all April-related ventures, but internet marketing experts conservatively estimate the haul in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The money will be used for zoo upkeep, wildlife conservation in Africa, and a favourite cause of the zoo’s founders — local children with unexpected medical expenses, the park owners say.
“The monies are going to allow the park to continue to grow and improve,” said Jordan Patch, who started the 20-acre zoo with his wife four years ago in Harpursville, about 130 miles northwest of New York City. “But also the money will help support our conservation efforts in Africa, so we’re actually providing tangible results for wild giraffes.”