Shropshire Star

Chester Zoo celebrating two new arrivals

Chester Zoo is celebrating two new arrivals – including the birth of a rare Rothschild's giraffe calf, who was already five-foot tall when born.

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And keepers are also celebrating the birth of a critically-endangered Bornean orangutan – the first of its kind to be born there in almost a decade.

The giraffe was born on Monday to eight-year-old mum Orla and zookeepers said the youngest came into the world smoothly following a four-hour labour, bringing an end to her 15-month pregnancy.

Sarah Roffe, giraffe team manager, said: "Orla went into labour at around noon and, for a little while, we could just see two spindly legs poking out. She is an experienced mum and a few hours later she delivered the calf safely onto soft straw as the rest of the herd, including her other young Kidepo and Millie, looked on.

The baby Bornean was a huge boost to the breeding programme

"Although it might be quite a drop, and they may fall to the ground with a bit of a thud, it is how giraffe calves arrive into the world and it stimulates them into taking their first breaths.

"That whole process, from a calf being born to it taking its very first steps, is an incredibly special thing to see. Those long legs take a little bit of getting used to but the new calf is doing ever so well, as is mum.

"She is an excellent parent and is doing a fantastic job of nursing her new arrival."

The calf is the second Rothschild's giraffe to be born at the zoo in the space of just four months, following the arrival of male Murchison on Boxing Day, and is a real boost to the zoo's efforts to help protect the species, which is being pushed close to extinction.

The birth of the Bornean orangutan followed an eight-and-a-half-month pregnancy for mum Sarikei and is a first offspring for dad, Willie.

Zoo conservationists say the baby is a huge boost to a breeding programme, which is working to conserve the iconic species which faces an uncertain future in the wild. The most recent estimates indicate there could be as few as 55,000 Bornean orangutans left in the wild.

The species is heavily threatened by illegal hunting, habitat destruction and the conversion of their forest to palm oil plantations.

Chris Yarwood, primate keeper, said: "Seeing mum Sarieki holding her tiny baby close is an amazing sight.

"It has been eight years since we last celebrated the birth of a Bornean orangutan at the zoo but it's well worth the wait.

"This is Sarikei's third baby and although it's very early days, she is so far doing a wonderful job."

l Watch the video of the giraffe being born go to www.shropshirestar.co.uk

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