Giraffe calf makes his lofty debut at Whipsnade
Wednesday 18 October 2006
Whipsnade has a new baby, but he’s hardly a babe in arms! The reticulated giraffe calf is just 11 days old and already measures a staggering 5ft 7ins/1.7m.
© South Beds News Agency’s - John O’Reilly
The tall guy is finding his feet around the yard of the giraffe paddock and keepers are very pleased with his progress since his birth on Saturday October 7 2006 at 06.30.
Staff monitoring Savannah’s pregnancy were able to watch the new baby make a soft landing on the hay inside the giraffe stable. The calf is the eighth one to be born at Whipsnade, which has a thriving reticulated giraffe herd. He is the first calf born to mother Savannah, who was also a Whipsnade baby five years ago.
Zoological Director David Field said: “We are delighted with this new baby giraffe. The calf will be a great new member of the herd here and a valuable addition to the European Endangered Species breeding programme.”
The calf is mother Savannah’s first after a 15-month pregnancy. Savannah, who is five, was also born at Whipsnade in August 2001. The calf’s father is called Bruno.
Whipsnade has a thriving reticulated giraffe herd, including two females Savannah and Steffi and two males Bruno and Toby and a calf Chiumbo born in 2004. The newborn is the eighth giraffe calf to be born here.
Photo Copyright: John O’Reilly, SB News Agency
