Whipsnade Zoo has welcomed a second endangered reticulated calf just a few weeks after the arrival of another.
The male calf ‘is an important addition to the conservation breeding programme’ at the Bedfordshire-based zoo.
He was born to mum Luna and dad Bashu on Monday, 15 July, just three weeks after fellow mum Ijuma had a female.
Luna endured a ‘tough’ eight-hour labour before delivering her calf at 1am.
According to the Zoo, the newborn was standing and exploring his new home after a few hours but needed to be ‘carefully monitored’ by keepers and vets, as his right front hoof appeared hyperextended, which meant it periodically bent the wrong way as he walked.
Whipsnade Zoo has welcomed a second endangered reticulated calf (above – and already 6ft tall) just a few weeks after the arrival of another
The two calves are pictured above exploring their paddock
The male calf was born to mum Luna and dad Bashu on Monday, 15 July, just three weeks after fellow mum Ijuma had a female. The calf is pictured above with Luna
Mark Holden, head of the large hoofstock team at Whipsnade Zoo, said: ‘We’re very excited about the arrival of a second giraffe calf at Whipsnade Zoo – we haven’t had two giraffe calves born here at the same time in over 30 years.
‘Luna is taking great care of her new arrival and is keeping a watchful eye on him at all times – but right now, he needs a little more attention from us and the vets, too.
‘Standing at approximately six feet tall already, he’s a big boy. He’s able to stand and walk, which means he can comfortably suckle from mum, but we need to be sure that his front hoof can bear his full weight as he grows.
‘We will be closely monitoring the new calf over the next few days to keep track of how his hoof is faring, but it seems to be righting itself already, and he was seen galloping around the paddock for the first time today alongside his new sister.’
Mark Holden, head of the large hoofstock team at Whipsnade Zoo, said: ‘We haven’t had two giraffe calves born here at the same time in over 30 years’
The birth of the new boy brings Whipsnade Zoo’s giraffe herd to a total of six.
The zoo describes the arrival of the calf as a ‘welcome boost to the international conservation breeding programme (EEP) for reticulated giraffes’, which are endangered due to illegal hunting, habitat destruction, and conflict with humans in unstable parts of Africa.
Visitors can book a ticket to see the giraffe herd, alongside 10,000 other animals, on the zoo’s website at www.zsl.org/Whipsnade.
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