Actual news story:

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) - An upstate New York 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.

Writer's embellishment:

Under a longstanding contract between the zoo and Ringling Brothers Circus, the newborn is the property of Ringling Brothers and must be made available for use in circus performances. The policy is printed on the back of all tickets for admission to the zoo.

But the zoo says the mother will retain possession of the new baby, even though it won't belong to her. "It was never in question for this kid," zoo director Kim Jones said. "(She) was always going to live with her mom." Jones added that the circus expressed no interest in taking the child during negotiations with the zoo that started before the baby was born.

"Ringling has no intention and has never had any intention of coming to take this baby," circus spokesman Dan Turlington said Sunday in an email to The Associated Press. He added that her company "has great appreciation for the way the Syracuse zoo cares for infants of all species."