Brookfield Zoo Welcomes Baby Giraffe (PHOTOS)

I can’t think of a more appropriate time to utter the phrase “whoa, baby!” than at the birth of the Brookfield Zoo’s newest giraffe.

The calf measured in at 5-feet, 9-inches tall and weighed 173 pounds, according to a release from the Brookfield Zoo.

He was born June 21 to Jasiri, a 7 ½-year-old first-time mom and 4-year-old Hasani, who is on breeding loan from the Lee Richardson Zoo in Kansas. (Hasani gets around—he also has a nearly 8-month-old calf named Dave.)

While the newest giraffe is already a whopper, he’s got a lot of growing to do before he reaches his full height. Adult giraffes can be as tall as 18 feet.

Fifty-nine giraffes have been born over the years at the Brookfield Zoo. Zoo breeding programs like the one at the zoo are particularly important considering the wild giraffe population has declined by 40 percent in the past 10 years.

The to-be-named calf can be seen on display at the zoo with mom, dad and half-brother Dave, as well as other giraffes Mithra, 22; Franny, 21; and Arnieta, 5.