It's a boy! The first-ever baby giraffe was born at Niabi Zoo in Coal Valley, Illinois and zoo keepers are excited about the delivery. The 100 pound calf was born at 8:01 Sunday morning and as Zoo Director Tom Stalf explains, the little guy entered the world with quite a jolt.

"When the females give birth standing up they will actually drop about 6 feet," said Stalf. "That drop helps them start to breathe. Within one hour he was standing and within a couple of hours he was nursing." Staff added.

It should be fun watching the baby develop, since he's expected to grow about an inch each day. An adult Giraffe can reach 14 to 19 feet tall and weigh 1,750 - 2,800 pounds.

The unnamed calf is the product of Kenya and Mimi at the zoo and was made possible through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Breeding Program. The new giraffe will stay at Niabi for at least a year, but after that, he may be moved for breeding at another zoo.

There could be more excitement ahead. Stalf says they are expecting another baby giraffe sometime soon. He says the public will get to see the new babies when it reopens for the 2010 season.