Adorable baby giraffe debuts at Santa Barbara Zoo

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KABC) -- A baby giraffe has made its debut at the Santa Barbara Zoo.

"Buttercup" took his first steps outside on Monday and even showed off with a little gallop. He is less than a week old and is already 186 pounds and over 6 feet tall.

Zoo officials say Buttercup will have access to the exhibit most mornings between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., but they can't guarantee that he'll be visible the whole time.

"The wind feels different outside of the barn, so just everything is new. He's reacting to that and then running back to what he knows, and then coming back out for more," said Sheri Horiszny with the Santa Barbara Zoo.

The zoo is expecting another baby giraffe in March.