Baby giraffe nursed with cow's milk at Mass. zoo

[Marilyn. 340]

NORTH GRAFTON, Mass. -- A baby giraffe born in Massachusetts is being nursed with cow's milk after its mother could not produce milk of her own. Veterinarians caring for "Molly" said Thursday that the 3-day-old female calf was in stable condition at the Hospital for Large Animals, part of the Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. Molly was born at Southwick Zoo in Mendon.

Doctors were concerned the baby giraffe - who stands 5-feet tall and weighs 86 pounds - would not receive vital antibodies from her mother's colostrum, or first milk. The animal was provided instead with cow colostrum, which is often substituted for large animals that do not receive milk from their mothers.

Dr. Daniela Bedenice says Molly is doing quite well, though is still at risk for infection.

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