He’s yet to be given a name. And his birth mother hasn’t taken to him, which can happen.

But the latest arrival at Safari West, the Sonoma County wildlife preserve, already stands about 4 feet tall and is being showered with love and care.

The baby giraffe was born Monday, April 13.

Safari West staff had been on watch for some time, monitoring mother Tara, who was impregnated more than a year ago.

After she went into labor, it only took about 10 minutes from the time the calf’s hooves started coming out for the whole body to emerge.

Safari West staff conducted diagnostic tests and administered antibiotics. The calf was tube-fed colostrum, since he needed nutrients.

He was also given a blood transfusion with bovine plasma to help him create antibodies he did not get from his mom, as he’s not been able to successfully nurse.

“Essentially, we were just monitoring his temperature, warming him up as needed, and letting him move around to exercise those muscles and also warm himself up as he was able to,” said Safari West veterinarian Emily Cehrs.

On Wednesday, April 15, Cehrs said the three-day-old giraffe, the smallest calf ever born at the preserve, was still unable to fully maintain his temperature on his own, “but we are hopeful that within the next few days that will change.”

He’s getting antibiotics for suspected sepsis, but he’s no longer being tube-fed because he’s taken to bottle feeding.

That was “quite a feat, and definitely a really important part of his success,” Cehrs said.

Cehrs said she hopes the calf won’t need another plasma transfusion but is in talks with other zoos in the event he does.

“We will hopefully be able to get another giraffe’s plasma shipped to us but we are looking in the right direction now, so hopeful that we will continue on this path,” Cehrs said.

You can reach Staff Writer Martin Espinoza at 707-521-5213 or martin.espinoza@pressdemocrat.com.