Tall tales at safari park after baby giraffe is born

HE’S not even a week old – but already tips the scales at 10 stone and measures a towering six feet tall.

Keepers at West Midlands Safari Park are celebrating the birth of a Rothschild’s giraffe.

The birth of the as-yet-unnamed calf was caught on CCTV at the Bewdley attraction.

And the moment the leggy newborn took his first steps – at just one hour old – was also captured on camera by delighted staff.

The long-necked calf arrived at 5.45pm on October 3 after a lengthy gestation period of around 15 months to second-time mum, Arusha.

After a prompt health-check, he already weighed in at a hefty 58 kilograms.

Angela Potter, Head of Wildlife at the Park, said: “The Wildlife Team are thrilled with our beautiful new arrival.

“It’s been lovely to see the reactions of the other members of the herd, who have been interacting with him from day one.

“With giraffe numbers plummeting by 40 per-cent in the past 15 years, we hope our new calf will inspire action and raise awareness of the issues these animals are facing in the wild.

“We are really pleased with his progress and are looking forward to watching him grow up amongst his extended family.

“Guests may be lucky enough to spot him either in his outdoor yard or on safari.” The herd - including his brother Fennessy and half-sister Emali - have been taking it in turns to look after the youngster.

Although the calf is yet to be named, keepers will choose a name beginning with ‘G’, as all babies born at the park in 2018 will begin with this letter.

With six female and four males, the new birth now brings the ‘tower’ of Rothschild’s giraffes up to 10.

It includes the baby’s dad – sevenyear-old Rufus.