April the giraffe: Pregnant woman's spoof video goes viral
A video of a pregnant woman doing an impression of April the giraffe has gone viral, racking up 10m views in little more than 12 hours.
The real giraffe became an internet sensation after zookeepers put cameras in her pen, in New York state, to broadcast the birth to the world.
Yet, after 10 days and with millions of viewers tuning in, the calf has yet to appear.
In a fitting tribute, the woman paces her bedroom, doing not very much.
The spoof is by a South Carolina-based photographer Erin Dietrich, an expectant fan in more ways than one.
"I did not think this many people would get a kick out of this," said Mrs Dietrich. "All our friends have been making fun of me and my obsession with April so we just thought 'hey, we should order a giraffe mask'."
Her video, in which she sits in various positions, waves to the camera and dances with her giraffe mask on, has already been shared more than 200,000 times.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people at a time are watching the video stream from Animal Adventure Park in Harpursville, almost 200 miles north-west of New York.
A total of around 20 million people have viewed the park's footage of April the giraffe so far.
It has been running since 24 February and there have been no signs of April going into labour.
Many welcomed Mrs Dietrich's video as a distraction from the long wait.
"I'm gonna need updates on this one now too," wrote one viewer, Melissa Ann Williams Ramirez. "Who will have their baby first???"
However, as the parody is taking off online faster than the original story, some social-medial users are confused.
"Am I the only one who doesn't get what she is doing?" asked one.
Has April the giraffe finally given birth?
Despite millions of people waiting in suspense for the birth of the baby giraffe in New York, the young calf has still not been born yet.
One of April's fans tweeted: “I’ve literally been waiting for April the giraffe to have this baby for the past week... What has my life come to…”
April the giraffe has become a global internet sensation after New York’s Animal Adventure Park started broadcasting a live stream of her pen.
The latest update from the zoo said: “April is in a much better mood today; but we completely understand her swings! She is a big girl and getting bigger.
“Last week, compared to this week, provides even further belly development and drop.
“Though the morning is cold, they may get yard time in today - if conditions are safe - otherwise tomorrow will bring warm temps and hours outdoors!
“Vet report is all positive and happy with progression.”
The giraffe seems calm today despite being on “edge” during a veterinary examination yesterday and acting a bit "spooky" over the weekend.
The Animal Adventure Park said: “There is a significant amount of belly movement and tail raising. Appetite is notably strong also.
“All around, we are all happy with her progress and continued condition. Of course, we are also ready for the next phase in this journey - but truly enjoying the moment.”
On Sunday the Animal Adventure Park said: “April continues to be a very much pregnant giraffe!
“She was reported as being a little 'spooky' last evening, which was likely due to the many intense baby kicks observed by keepers.”
Earlier in the weekend, the park said: “Pregnancy belly has never looked so good! Move over Beyonce -- there is a new bump in town!”
Some Twitter users are confused about why April giraffe has achieved celebrity status despite not doing much as the wait continues.
One asked: “Why are people so obsessed with watching a giraffe give birth like it's not going to be incredibly disgusting”.
But other animal lovers seem to have developed a bond with April and each other by watching the live stream online.
One of her fans posted on: “I fall asleep every night watching her ... she brings me a sense of peace that is desperately needed right now.
“Thanks so much for sharing her journey to motherhood with us.”
The animal lovers who reside in different time zones help each other keep guard of April.
A british viewer who decided to go to bed around 11pm, asked friends across the world to tweet her if they spot hooves.
Her tweet read: “British contingent of #giraffewatch is signing off and going to bed. Someone tweet me if you see hooves please. Ta very much :)”
Whilst an American news anchor hoped to deliver the good news on her show.
She tweeted: “April the giraffe is doing weird stuff with her neck... That baby is coming soon... I know it! Hopefully live on air. haha #GiraffeWatch”
Giraffe giving birth ANY MOMENT NOW #giraffewatch
April the giraffe has become an internet sensation, with more than 30 million people logging on to watch her every move as she prepares to give birth.
The proud mother-to-be is in the final stages of her epic 15-month pregnancy but is taking every moment of imminent labour in her lanky stride.
The latest update from New York's Animal Adventure Park said: "April is in a much better mood today; but we completely understand her swings! She is a big girl and getting bigger."
As the world waits for April to give birth, Animal Adventure Park told Express.co.uk: “We’ve seen a lot of belly movement and baby kicks.”
The park’s boss owner Jordan Patch added that April “seemed a little bit off her normal routine” yesterday – which could be a sign that the baby is finally on its way.
However, the park will not announce that April is in labour until the baby's hooves are visible. At this point, things should start moving along very quickly.
April is exhibiting the kind of 'restlessness' expected by experts soon before birth.
The giraffe's fly-on-the-wall pregnancy caused a storm last month when animal rights fanatics forced the zoo to take down the live video feed, declaring the viral images as "sexually explicit" despite receiving 30 million viewings.
The adventure park's boss, Jordan Patch, removed the live stream for a while, before re-starting the footage with a plea to the activists to engage and "get behind conservation".
"The world waits on edge and April smirks with a mouthful of cud," officials declared.
"Watch closely for strong kicks from within!"
The park’s latest update said: “There is a significant amount of belly movement and tail raising. Appetite is notably strong also.
“All around, we are all happy with her progress and continued condition. Of course, we are also ready for the next phase in this journey but truly enjoying the moment.”
Shortly before, the park had explained why she had got “spooky” but that she continued to blossom like a mother-to-be.
The park explained: “April continues to be a very much pregnant giraffe! She was reported as being a little ‘spooky’, which was likely due to the many intense baby kicks observed by keepers.
“Pregnancy belly has never looked so good! Move over, Beyonce. There is a new bump in town."
An indication of how 15 year old April's fourth pregnancy has captured the public conscience could be seen from the countless postings on the park's Facebook page.
One fan wrote: "I just want you guys to know that my husband is in Iraq and when he calls the first thing he asks is how April is doing!
"He says that she is even a hot topic with the troops over there! I am emailing screen shots everyday so they can keep up."
At 4.45pm GMT yesterday - 4am in New York - more than 100,000 people were watching April.
The viewing figures are expected go off the scale later today.
Zoo officials say they will only announce that April is in labour when the calf's hooves become visible.
Giraffes are pregnant for up to 464 days, one of the longest gestation periods of any animal, and become extremely secretive about their deliveries to avoid the attentions of predators in the wild.
Once the calf is born, the zoo will hold a competition to find a name. This will be April's fourth calf, but the first for mate Oliver, five.
In December, giraffes were placed on the Red List of vanishing species after scientists warned that it is threatened with extinction after numbers plunged from up to 160,000 in 1985 to 97,562 in 2015.
April's calf will be the second baby giraffe to be delivered in the United States in recent days. A male named Dobby was unexpectedly born on Tuesday at a Denver Zoo in Colorado despite the mother, Kipele, being on birth control.
The Animal Adventure Park tonight warned thousands of fans waiting to see April the giraffe give birth to beware of fraudsters.
In a Facebook message to the huge number of animal lovers spending hours watching April preparing to go into the final stages of labour that people were advantage of the giraffe.
The park said: “We urge caution again.
“Many pop-up T-shirt and clothing stores, also fake YouTube pages with chats are taking advantage of the opportunity. All things April that are official and sanctioned by Animal Adventure are located on www.ApriltheGiraffe.com.
The park also said April looks increasingly closer to giving birth as a new day dawned in New York.
April's keepers have noticed her changing many of her normal behaviour patterns, indicating that her body is preparing for delivery.
In an update to the huge army of internet followers, the park said: “April changed some of her behaviors overnight.
"She is moving in different patterns, choosing new spots to stand and sleep, and even going off her usual sleep routine, which will be recognisable to our loyal viewers. Why? Could be many reasons.
"Continued increase in belly movements. Our keeper reports this morning suggest all observed physical signs remain unchanged and on the positive.”
The real giraffe became an internet sensation after zookeepers put cameras in her pen, in New York state, to broadcast the birth to the world.
Yet, after 10 days and with millions of viewers tuning in, the calf has yet to appear.
In a fitting tribute, the woman paces her bedroom, doing not very much.
The spoof is by a South Carolina-based photographer Erin Dietrich, an expectant fan in more ways than one.
"I did not think this many people would get a kick out of this," said Mrs Dietrich. "All our friends have been making fun of me and my obsession with April so we just thought 'hey, we should order a giraffe mask'."
Her video, in which she sits in various positions, waves to the camera and dances with her giraffe mask on, has already been shared more than 200,000 times.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people at a time are watching the video stream from Animal Adventure Park in Harpursville, almost 200 miles north-west of New York.
A total of around 20 million people have viewed the park's footage of April the giraffe so far.
It has been running since 24 February and there have been no signs of April going into labour.
Many welcomed Mrs Dietrich's video as a distraction from the long wait.
"I'm gonna need updates on this one now too," wrote one viewer, Melissa Ann Williams Ramirez. "Who will have their baby first???"
However, as the parody is taking off online faster than the original story, some social-medial users are confused.
"Am I the only one who doesn't get what she is doing?" asked one.
 |
| Photographer Erin Dietrich does her impression of April, the internet-famous pregnant giraffe. FACEBOOK/ERIN DIETRICH |
Has April the giraffe finally given birth?
Despite millions of people waiting in suspense for the birth of the baby giraffe in New York, the young calf has still not been born yet.
One of April's fans tweeted: “I’ve literally been waiting for April the giraffe to have this baby for the past week... What has my life come to…”
April the giraffe has become a global internet sensation after New York’s Animal Adventure Park started broadcasting a live stream of her pen.
The latest update from the zoo said: “April is in a much better mood today; but we completely understand her swings! She is a big girl and getting bigger.
“Last week, compared to this week, provides even further belly development and drop.
“Though the morning is cold, they may get yard time in today - if conditions are safe - otherwise tomorrow will bring warm temps and hours outdoors!
“Vet report is all positive and happy with progression.”
The giraffe seems calm today despite being on “edge” during a veterinary examination yesterday and acting a bit "spooky" over the weekend.
The Animal Adventure Park said: “There is a significant amount of belly movement and tail raising. Appetite is notably strong also.
“All around, we are all happy with her progress and continued condition. Of course, we are also ready for the next phase in this journey - but truly enjoying the moment.”
On Sunday the Animal Adventure Park said: “April continues to be a very much pregnant giraffe!
“She was reported as being a little 'spooky' last evening, which was likely due to the many intense baby kicks observed by keepers.”
Earlier in the weekend, the park said: “Pregnancy belly has never looked so good! Move over Beyonce -- there is a new bump in town!”
Some Twitter users are confused about why April giraffe has achieved celebrity status despite not doing much as the wait continues.
One asked: “Why are people so obsessed with watching a giraffe give birth like it's not going to be incredibly disgusting”.
But other animal lovers seem to have developed a bond with April and each other by watching the live stream online.
One of her fans posted on: “I fall asleep every night watching her ... she brings me a sense of peace that is desperately needed right now.
“Thanks so much for sharing her journey to motherhood with us.”
The animal lovers who reside in different time zones help each other keep guard of April.
A british viewer who decided to go to bed around 11pm, asked friends across the world to tweet her if they spot hooves.
Her tweet read: “British contingent of #giraffewatch is signing off and going to bed. Someone tweet me if you see hooves please. Ta very much :)”
Whilst an American news anchor hoped to deliver the good news on her show.
She tweeted: “April the giraffe is doing weird stuff with her neck... That baby is coming soon... I know it! Hopefully live on air. haha #GiraffeWatch”
Giraffe giving birth ANY MOMENT NOW #giraffewatch
April the giraffe has become an internet sensation, with more than 30 million people logging on to watch her every move as she prepares to give birth.
The proud mother-to-be is in the final stages of her epic 15-month pregnancy but is taking every moment of imminent labour in her lanky stride.
The latest update from New York's Animal Adventure Park said: "April is in a much better mood today; but we completely understand her swings! She is a big girl and getting bigger."
As the world waits for April to give birth, Animal Adventure Park told Express.co.uk: “We’ve seen a lot of belly movement and baby kicks.”
The park’s boss owner Jordan Patch added that April “seemed a little bit off her normal routine” yesterday – which could be a sign that the baby is finally on its way.
However, the park will not announce that April is in labour until the baby's hooves are visible. At this point, things should start moving along very quickly.
April is exhibiting the kind of 'restlessness' expected by experts soon before birth.
The giraffe's fly-on-the-wall pregnancy caused a storm last month when animal rights fanatics forced the zoo to take down the live video feed, declaring the viral images as "sexually explicit" despite receiving 30 million viewings.
The adventure park's boss, Jordan Patch, removed the live stream for a while, before re-starting the footage with a plea to the activists to engage and "get behind conservation".
"The world waits on edge and April smirks with a mouthful of cud," officials declared.
"Watch closely for strong kicks from within!"
The park’s latest update said: “There is a significant amount of belly movement and tail raising. Appetite is notably strong also.
“All around, we are all happy with her progress and continued condition. Of course, we are also ready for the next phase in this journey but truly enjoying the moment.”
Shortly before, the park had explained why she had got “spooky” but that she continued to blossom like a mother-to-be.
The park explained: “April continues to be a very much pregnant giraffe! She was reported as being a little ‘spooky’, which was likely due to the many intense baby kicks observed by keepers.
“Pregnancy belly has never looked so good! Move over, Beyonce. There is a new bump in town."
An indication of how 15 year old April's fourth pregnancy has captured the public conscience could be seen from the countless postings on the park's Facebook page.
One fan wrote: "I just want you guys to know that my husband is in Iraq and when he calls the first thing he asks is how April is doing!
"He says that she is even a hot topic with the troops over there! I am emailing screen shots everyday so they can keep up."
At 4.45pm GMT yesterday - 4am in New York - more than 100,000 people were watching April.
The viewing figures are expected go off the scale later today.
Zoo officials say they will only announce that April is in labour when the calf's hooves become visible.
Giraffes are pregnant for up to 464 days, one of the longest gestation periods of any animal, and become extremely secretive about their deliveries to avoid the attentions of predators in the wild.
Once the calf is born, the zoo will hold a competition to find a name. This will be April's fourth calf, but the first for mate Oliver, five.
In December, giraffes were placed on the Red List of vanishing species after scientists warned that it is threatened with extinction after numbers plunged from up to 160,000 in 1985 to 97,562 in 2015.
April's calf will be the second baby giraffe to be delivered in the United States in recent days. A male named Dobby was unexpectedly born on Tuesday at a Denver Zoo in Colorado despite the mother, Kipele, being on birth control.
The Animal Adventure Park tonight warned thousands of fans waiting to see April the giraffe give birth to beware of fraudsters.
In a Facebook message to the huge number of animal lovers spending hours watching April preparing to go into the final stages of labour that people were advantage of the giraffe.
The park said: “We urge caution again.
“Many pop-up T-shirt and clothing stores, also fake YouTube pages with chats are taking advantage of the opportunity. All things April that are official and sanctioned by Animal Adventure are located on www.ApriltheGiraffe.com.
The park also said April looks increasingly closer to giving birth as a new day dawned in New York.
April's keepers have noticed her changing many of her normal behaviour patterns, indicating that her body is preparing for delivery.
In an update to the huge army of internet followers, the park said: “April changed some of her behaviors overnight.
"She is moving in different patterns, choosing new spots to stand and sleep, and even going off her usual sleep routine, which will be recognisable to our loyal viewers. Why? Could be many reasons.
"Continued increase in belly movements. Our keeper reports this morning suggest all observed physical signs remain unchanged and on the positive.”
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