The Denver Zoo is celebrating the birth of their newest reticulated giraffe calf, Dobby.
Dobby was born on February 28 and needs some special attention. The calf had difficulty standing and nursing.
Zoo officials said they teemed up with Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado to support Dobby. Supplemental feeding was provided and the calf began nursing. However, recent blood work showed the calf wasn’t able to receive enough infection-fighting proteins from his mother, Kipele Janie, in his first day of nursing.
Dobby had a transfusion of plasma to restore his antibody levels to normal.
Zookeepers and veterinarians are trying to boost his immune system with colostrum-replacer and transfusion of plasma, which was generously donated by Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, they say.
Dobby and his mother, Kipele Janie, will remain out of the public until he gains strength.