Adorable baby giraffe delights zoo visitors on his first public appearance for World Giraffe Day
- A baby giraffe has made an appearance at Dubbo Zoo on a morning walk
- The new resident at the Dubbo zoo was born on a foggy morning last Saturday
- The newborn is the seventh one for mum Ntombi and first timer dad, Mtoto
A newborn giraffe calf has surprised guests during a behind-the-scenes morning walk at Taronga Western Plains Zoo.
Guests at the Dubbo zoo were the first to spot the male calf in the long grass just after dawn on Saturday, just days before World Giraffe Day on Tuesday.
Giraffe keeper Bobby-Jo Vial who was guiding the walk, said the silhouette of the calf was just visible through the mist that was hanging over the paddock.
A male calf (pictured) was born on Saturday, days before World Giraffe Day on Tuesday
The species has been dwindling over the past 30 years, with a sharp 40 per cent drop threatening their survival
Giraffe keeper Bobby-Jo Vial said she saw the silhouette of the young calf (pictured) early Saturday morning though some fog
‘I knew that something had happened due to the very foggy conditions,’ she said.
‘Giraffes coincide with the weather to give birth, such as storms or extreme weather conditions, as it helps hide the vulnerable calves from predators.’
It’s the seventh calf for mother Ntombi, while first-time dad Mtoto was transferred to the zoo’s breeding herd in 2019 to increase the genetic diversity in the population.
Giraffe numbers have been declining in the wild in the past decade, with numbers ravaged by habitat encroachment, snares, civil unrest and poaching.
The wild population is estimated at less than 117,000, a decline of 40 per cent over 30 years.
The young calf takes in some sun (pictured) surprising guests at Dubbo Zoo on Saturday
The calf (pictured) is the seventh for mother Ntombi, while first-time dad Mtoto was transferred to the zoo’s breeding herd in 2019 to increase the genetic diversity in the population