Watch the moment an adorable baby giraffe joins the herd at West Midlands Safari Park
Keepers are celebrating the birth of a baby giraffe at West Midlands Safari Park, with the special moment caught on CCTV.
The leggy youngster was born in the warmth of the giraffe house at 6.30am on Wednesday, October 8, to mum, 14-year-old Akacia.
The moment the calf took its first steps was also captured on camera 40 minutes later, followed by its first feed and interactions with mum and adult female, Bwindi, who was with Akacia throughout the experience.
A few days later, keepers and the veterinary team did a quick health check and were delighted to discover that the calf is a girl.
Head heeper of ungulates, Lisa Watkins, said: “The team at West Midlands Safari Park were delighted to see that a healthy, female giraffe calf had been born on Wednesday morning. Akacia is an experienced mother and is currently settling and bonding with the newborn in the warmth of the house. The pregnancy and birth were straightforward, and the calf is thriving.
“All animals born this year at the park have names beginning with the letter ‘N’, so we have chosen ‘Namara’, meaning sunshine.
"Giraffe in the wild are under threat, so every birth is really important to the population. We hope that guests will be able to glimpse her soon, as she takes her first steps into the outdoor giraffe yard.”
Giraffe as a species hit headlines recently: scientists previously thought that there was just one species of giraffe, but genetic evidence has proved that there are four distinct species.
The giraffes at the park have been reclassified as ‘Northern giraffe’, meaning that their wild counterparts are currently facing severe threats such as habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching, climate change and effects from political unrest in the areas they live.
Namara is the latest success for the giraffe EAZA Ex-situ Programme (EEP) which supports collaborative breeding efforts between European zoos and wildlife parks to conserve endangered species.
The next steps for Namara will be for her to be introduced to the rest of the herd, including older siblings Emali and Kris, half-brother Kingsley and dad Rufus.
Keepers then hope that she will be out and about with the rest of the herd on the Safari Drive, weather dependent, in the next few weeks.
Guests can see the giraffes in the Safari Drive, as well as on foot via the African Walking Trail, which is included in the admission price.
West Midlands Safari Park is open daily until November 2 and guests can book in advance online for the best prices, which also includes a free return visit.
More information is available on the Park’s website: wmsp.co.uk
