West Midland Safari Park working to protect giraffes

Earlier this year the park, near Kidderminster, celebrated the arrival of two giraffe calves.

Angela Potter, who is the head of wildlife operations.said: "The news today is very concerning for giraffe conservation - something we are very passionate about. At the Park we have a small herd of Rothchild's giraffe who are part of a European Breeding Programme, which started with the arrival of four females from zoos around Europe and a male from Flamingo land three years ago.

"We were very lucky this year to have two giraffe calves born as part of the programme, in August and September.

"We hope that they act as ambassadors for their wild counterparts and help raise awareness of the very real danger the species faces."

The giraffe population has declined by up to 40 per cent in the past 30 years, fuelled by habitat loss, illegal hunting and civil unrest in the African countries they inhabit.

Mr Harland said: "Conservation of endangered species is at the core of what we do and this young male will have a vital role to play in the future."

The Safari Park has four females – Bwindi, mother to Embu the male calf, born on August 9 this year.

Then there is Akacia, mother to Emali, a female calf born on September 4 this year. Others include Arusha and Faida.

The three males are Rufus, the father, Henry and Strider.

In 2014 the park held a Love Giraffe Week where it raised more than £700 to go towards the Giraffe Conservation Foundation.

Meanwhile keepers at Port Lympne Reserve in Kent said their birth of the 5ft 6in (1.7m) male to first-time mother Lehana was an 'early Christmas present' earlier this week.