These images show an adorable baby giraffe that was recently welcomed at the world’s oldest zoo taking its first steps and snuggling up to mum.
Officials at Schoenbrunn Zoo, in Vienna, Austria, revealed that they welcomed the little calf in the early hours of Thursday, 14th November.
Zoo director Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: “The birth went perfectly.
“With giraffes in particular, this always involves a great initial risk, as the animals give birth standing up and the young animal is born after falling from a height of two metres.
“But the young animal’s first few days are also very critical, so the mother and calf are currently under special observation.
“Our team of experts is analysing the animals’ behaviour around the clock using cameras equipped in the giraffe house.
“Our primary goal is to enable the animals to be raised naturally by their parents. We now have to keep our fingers crossed that the calf continues to develop well.”
The mother and the young calf are temporarily separated from the rest of the group.
According to Hering-Hagenbeck, this behaviour mirrors the natural instinct of female giraffes, who also isolate themselves from the herd shortly before giving birth.
To ensure a safe environment for the new arrival, part of the giraffe house at the zoo was outfitted with special stable mats, providing a non-slip surface for the mother and calf.
Currently, the two are staying in this area, which is why they are not yet visible to visitors.
The rest of the group will reportedly be introduced to the calf soon, its nearly three-year-old older sister.
Curator Dr Eveline Dungl said: “A birth is a great enrichment for the whole group. Young animals keep all herd members on their toes and bring new dynamics to the group.
“Despite initial caution, the joy about the offspring is great, especially among the team of zookeepers, who look after the animals every day with great dedication and expertise.”
Native to the Horn of Africa, the reticulated giraffe (Giraffa reticulata) is the largest subspecies of giraffe and the tallest land animal in general.
The species is listed as ‘Endangered’ on IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species.
There are approximately 8,500 individuals living in the wild. In both captivity and the wild, there are 15,785 individuals across the world as of 2024.
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Story By: Georgina Jedikovska, Sub-Editor: Georgina Jedikovska, Agency: Newsflash
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