West Midland Safari Park welcomes new baby giraffe - WATCH
A rare six-foot-tall baby Rothschild giraffe has been born at the West Midland Safari Park.
The long-necked calf was born at the attraction on October 3, after a lengthy gestation period of around 15 months to second-time mother Arusha.
After several attempts, the leggy youngster managed to find his feet and stand just an hour after being born.
After a prompt health-check, he already weighed in at a hefty 58 kilograms – nearly 10 stone.
WATCH the birth here:
Angela Potter, head of wildlife, said: "The wildlife team are thrilled with our beautiful new arrival. It has 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.”
She added: “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 newborn is yet to be named, but keepers will be choosing a name beginning with 'G' – as all babies born at the park in 2018 will begin with this letter.
Giraffes are listed as 'vulnerable' in the wild by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and are already extinct in seven African countries.
