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Al Ain: A baby giraffe was born on New Year's Day at Al Ain Zoo, surprising the caretakers who were expecting the birth a week later.
The female baby giraffe was born at 9.30am and immediately got to her feet and started suckling, said Mark Craig, Director of the Zoo. Since the birth, both mother and baby are doing well and have been separated from the main group.
"This was a wonderful New Year's Day present to all visitors and staff and demonstrates our high standards of animal husbandry and management. We now have an extended family group of giraffe numbering 10 in our mixed African exhibit," he said.
Rapid improvement
Al Ain Zoo recorded record crowds throughout 2007 with a total number of 614,000 visitors throughout the Year. New additions to the zoo and a continued programme of rapid improvements have contributed to the success in 2007.
Majid Al Mansouri, Managing Director said Al Ain Zoo is a major wildlife tourist attraction in Abu Dhabi with priorities of recreation, education and conservation as cornerstones of our success.
"We have further plans in 2008 to improve the zoo and extend our wildlife experiences for families to include a wildlife safari," he added.
New projects planned for 2008 include the addition of five white rhinos to the mixed African exhibit, a new African wild dog exhibit and an Australian exhibit featuring kangaroos and Emus.
Quick stats: Lifestyle and breeding
- Males are taller and heavier than females, standing up to 5.5m [head height] and weighing up to 1,400kg.
- Inhabiting wooded grasslands and savannah, giraffe browse mainly on the leaves and twigs of Acacia tree species, consuming up to 63kg of food a day.
- Their long, coarse tongues, [45cm in length], are used to pull down high branches and wrap around the sharp thorns of their food trees.
- Males fight by swinging their neck and head to deliver a blow.
- Breeding occurs all year round. The female stands up to give birth to one calf which can be up to 1.8m in length.
- Average lifespan in the wild is 10-15 years.
- A giraffe can only run fast for short periods of time.
- A giraffe will kick out to defend itself against predators. A well placed kick can kill a lion.
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