Australia Zoo welcomes newborn baby giraffe

Sunshine Coast attraction Australia Zoo has announced that its beloved Sally the giraffe has welcomed her second baby – a precious female calf.

This new addition is the fourth giraffe baby to be born at the Zoo in two years, with her sister Tulip and half-sisters Skye and Lily already gracing the attraction’s African Savannah exhibit.

With a giraffe gestation period totalling 15 months, this long-awaited birth signifies the continuation of a successful giraffe breeding program at Australia Zoo.

The program is necessary as only 90,000 giraffes are believed to be left in the wild.

Australia Zoo’s head of African animals, Manu Ludden is proud of eight year old Sally and overjoyed about the birth of the new calf.

Ludden stated “we’re thrilled to announce the birth of yet another beautiful, healthy baby giraffe! She was born measuring just under 2 metres in height and was eager to get going straight away!

“She took her first wobbly steps about an hour after being born and started feeding from her mother five minutes later.

“Sally is being really attentive to her new baby which is a great sign and they’re both doing very well health-wise.

“All our giraffe are extremely sweet natured and are very relaxed around the new calf, but as with any family with a new baby, they are very inquisitive of our new addition,” she said.

The birth was announced in the run up to Steve Irwin Gala Dinner in Los Angeles.

The Gala is held in honour of Irwine’s legacy and will raise much needed funds for the Wildlife Warriors charity, supporting conservation initiatives around the world including Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, where giraffe are protected alongside critically endangered northern white rhinos, black rhinos, lions, elephants, zebra and more by K9 units, an armed ranger team and cutting edge anti-poaching drones.

Sally and her new baby will be taking some time out to bond while Australia Zoo will keep those interested updated on when the little one can be seen in the African Savannah via www.australiazoo.com.au/giraffe

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