Zoo welcomes tallest baby

Paigntonzoo
Authored by Paigntonzoo
Posted Wednesday, August 21, 2013 - 1:23pm

The tallest baby in the world has just been born at Paignton Zoo in Devon.

The Rothschild's giraffe calf stands at nearly six feet tall.

The as yet unnamed and unsexed calf was born to mother Janica and father Yoda on the morning of Tuesday 20 August.

Paignton Zoo Curator of Mammals Neil Bemment said: “The first thing that happens to a baby giraffe when it is born is a six foot drop onto the ground – it’s a hard way to start!”

The gestation period for a giraffe is between 400 and 460 days. The mother gives birth standing up – the fall breaks the umbilical cord. The calf can stand and run within a few hours.

Father Yoda came from Givskud Zoo, Denmark, where he was born on 14th November 2004. He arrived in Devon in September 2006. Sangha came from Liberec Zoo in Slovakia. The Zoo’s other female is Janica, who came to Paignton Zoo from Duvr Kralove Zoo in the Czech Republic.

The other youngsters at the Zoo are Valentino, born to mother Janica on 14th February 2012 and Otilie, who was born to mother Sangha in September 2012.

They are all Rothschild's (Baringo) giraffes. Rothschild's giraffes are classified as Endangered – there is a European Endangered species Programme for the species.

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park is a registered charity. For more information go to www.paigntonzoo.org.uk or ring 0844 474 2222.

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