Life & Style

New arrival in giraffe herd at Irish wildlife park - and you can name her

A NEW ARRIVAL for the giraffe herd at an Irish wildlife park needs a new name - and her keepers are asking you to name her.

The baby female giraffe landed – literally, as giraffes give birth while standing up - on Tuesday, April 18 and will join the 12-strong herd of Rothschild giraffes at Fota Wildlife Park in Co. Cork

The calf is now strong enough to join her mother in the giraffe house enclosure, which is visible to the public, for short periods of time.

Wardens at the park are asking members of the public to give the new baby girl an Irish name, and the winner will receive a year-long conservation membership to Fota Wildlife.

The infant is the sixth calf for 15-year-old Sapphire, who originally came from Edinburgh Zoo in 2006, and father Tadhg.

Lead warden of the hoof stock section at Fota Wildlife Park, Aidan Rafferty said: “This young female is a very important addition to our herd and we are delighted that our captive breeding programme run with the European Endangered Species Programme has been such a success as there are fewer than 670 Rothschild giraffes left in the wild."

The European Endangered Species Breeding Programme helps address the many threats endangered species face in the wild and the need to protect them as managed populations as well as protecting their genetic diversity into the future.

Sapphire grooms her new baby girl at the Wildlife Park. (Picture: Fota)

"We hope that the birth of this little one will help raise awareness of the plight of giraffes as a species," Mr Rafferty added.

New mother Sapphire has been sponsored by Scottish teen Joely Campbell for 11 years and Ms Campbell said she "can't wait" until she meets the new arrival.

"Sapphire has been a big part of my life since I was really small. I have lots of fond memories, especially of the first time I saw her up close and got to bottle feed her first calf Clona.

"I am so excited that Sapphire has a new calf and can't wait until our next visit and for when we will get to see her new arrival. I look forward to hearing what Irish name she will be given," Ms Campbell said.

Fota Wildlife Park, a non-profit organisation, encompasses 100 acres of land on Fota Island, Co. Cork and is home to a diverse range of animals many of which are critically endangered.