Mom gives birth at Syracuse zoo

SYRACUSE -- An upstate zoo got a surprise visit from the stork.

A woman gave birth on a wildlife path at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse on Friday, delivering her baby girl with the help of zookeepers not far from the bear exhibit.

Zoo educator Liz Schmidt said that she rushed over from the reindeer pen to find the 21-year-old woman pushing out the baby.

Other zoo workers arrived with blankets to keep Mom and the baby warm.

The zoo's elephant expert herded away curious zoo patrons.

An ambulance soon arrived to take the newborn to a hospital. Zoo director Ted Fox says the zoo plans to send a gift to the family.

-- AP