Calgary Zoo welcomes baby giraffe

The Calgary Zoo is celebrating the arrival of a baby giraffe, but she won't make her public debut until next week.

The baby girl was born on Thursday to parents Carrie, 22, and her much younger sire Nabo, aged 5.

"The new calf is thriving, wobbly taking her first steps minutes after birth," the Calgary Zoo said in a statement, adding that she's now tucked away in the back areas of the Savannah Building to spend time bonding with her mother.

The baby, who has yet to be named,has been in the making for the past 15 months.

"At this stage, mom and calf are bonding well and we have seen positive signs of nursing," said zoo curator Colleen Baird.

Mother Carrie has had threeother babies Jeffrey in 2000, Sherri in 2008 and Jengo in 2011 since arriving from Indianapolis Zoo in 1994.

Nabo joined her in 2012 from Louisville Zoo.

Giraffes are not considered endangered but have been identified as a species whose population is in decline.

Wild populations of giraffes are estimated to range between 80,000 to140,000 and and face increasing threats due to habitat loss and poaching.

The average life expectancy of a giraffe is 20 to 25 years.