Tall of the wild . . . 7ft baby giraffe makes his debut at zoo
HE may be only three weeks old but already he's 7ft tall.
The first giraffe to be born at Dublin Zoo for more than a decade made its first appearance in public yesterday.
Proud dad Robin, aged eight, and mum Jenny, aged 11, introduced their new arrival to the world.
Already showing signs of independence, the yet-to-be-named calf is the first fully successful giraffe birth in Dublin zoo since 1995.
His birth takes the giraffe herd at the zoo to a total of five.
Yesterday, team leader in the 'African Plains' section of the zoo, Helen Clarke, said both mother and calf were doing well.
"She is very good and despite the fact that she is a first time mother, she knows what she is doing," said Ms Clarke.
"The only thing is that he is a little independent and he will wander away from her.
"She has to keep on the ball."
When he reaches maturity, the giraffe will measure 18ft high - similar to his parents.
There is a possibility, as has been done in the past, that the public may end up deciding the name of the new calf, said Ms Clarke.
He is likely to stay in Dublin zoo for a few years before being moved abroad as Dublin only has the capacity for one male, the new-born's father.
- Shane Hickey
