Belfast Zoo is thrilled with the birth of a Rothschild's giraffe on 13 August 2024. Neja, an experienced mother, welcomed a beautiful girl calf in the early hours.
This is the third Rothschild's giraffe born at the zoo in 2024. Ballycarrie was born in January, followed by Ballyarchie in July and now a gorgeous girl in August. Despite not being triplets, this majestic trio have already formed a strong bond. The new calf is currently on show at the zoo and can be visited daily.
Giraffes are globally recognised and adored animals. But they are encountering growing dangers in their natural habitat, such as poaching and loss of living space. Rothschild's giraffes are among the most at risk of the nine giraffe subspecies.
Zoo manager, Alyn Cairns, expressed his excitement about the calf that was born recently at the zoo:
In 1988, we introduced Rothschild’s giraffes and have since rejoiced in the arrival of 39 baby giraffes. We are honoured to be involved in a European breeding initiative and co-operate with zoos globally. Our success in breeding plays a role in guaranteeing the existence of a secure population of this threatened subspecies.
Giraffes deliver their babies while standing up, with the front feet coming out first, followed by the head, neck, and shoulders. The calf drops over five feet to the ground, experiencing no pain but prompting it to take its initial deep breath. Calves are born at a height of five to six feet, able to stand within 30 minutes and start running after just 10 hours.
Name the new giraffe calf
It is tradition at Belfast Zoo that our giraffe calves are named after towns and villages that begin with 'Bally'. We've drawn-up a shortlist of three names and invite you to vote for the name you prefer:
- Ballycassidy
- Ballyshannon
- Ballylinney
To vote for one of these names, comment on our Facebook (link opens in new window) post. Voting will close on Friday 30 August 2024 at 4pm.