Zoo welcomes new giraffe calf

Dublin Zoo is celebrating the birth of a female Rothschild giraffe calf.

Dublin Zoo is celebrating the birth of a female Rothschild giraffe calf.

The calf stands six feet tall and takes after her mother, Maeve, with a light tan coat.

This is Maeve’s second calf. She gave birth to Arria nearly two years ago.

The new arrival is certainly not shy based on her first appearance in the African Savannah in just weeks after she was born on June 27th.

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Helen Clarke Bennet, team leader of the African Plains said: “She is very confident for her age. Most calves would not join the herd until a week after they are born so she has integrated very well. We are delighted with our new addition.”

She joins a herd of ten giraffes, six of which are Rothschild giraffes.

The Rothschild giraffe is one of the most threatened of the nine giraffe sub species with less than 700 remaining in the wild.

Keepers at Dublin Zoo are asking the public to suggest a name for the new arrival.

They have requested original names, based on the animal’s country of origin and that say something about the newborn.

Name suggestions can be submitted through the zoo's Facebook page.