West Midland Safari Park Giraffe is named

The leggy Rothschild giraffe calf is already topping 6ft and has just been named by keepers at the wildlife park, near Bewdley.

The giant youngster is proving a huge hit with visitors after he was born to second-time mother Arusha on October 3.

Each new-born animal at the park in 2018 is being given a name that begins with G.

The park is open to the public every day until November 9 and then on weekends with Santa Safari openings from December 1 to 24.

Ian Nock, deputy head keeper of ungulates, said: “Our baby giraffe Gerald, was born to second-time mother Arusha on at 5.45pm on October 3. As all animals born here this year have their names beginning with a 'G,' there was a choice of three names and Gerald was most popular.

"Little Gerry has had great fun meeting the rest of our giraffe herd, especially his half-sister Emali and brother Fennessy (Fenn). We are so pleased to see not only our giraffe herd grow, but also ongoing efforts towards conservation.”

Giraffes are listed as ‘vulnerable’ in the wild by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and are already extinct in seven African countries.

The new arrival has brought the ‘tower’ of Rothschild’s giraffes at the park up to 10 – six females and four males, including Gerald’s dad, seven-year-old Rufus.

The giraffes can be seen on the four-mile Safari Drive-through,which is included in the standard admission charge of £24 for adults and £19 for children aged three to 15.. Admission includes a free return ticket.