We can now announce that the name of our new baby Rothschild’s giraffe is ‘Ruby’. The park is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, so staff decided to call the arrival Ruby after the stone which symbolises the milestone.
The baby, which is a Rothschild’s giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi), is part of a European Breeding Programme. Currently the species is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Giraffes face many threats in the wild including habitat loss and poaching for meat and hides. It is thought there may be only a few hundred individuals left in the wild.
The youngster will begin to eat solids after approximately 1 month and will be fully weaned within a year.
Irsula arrived at the park last Summer from Woburn Safari Park, which is where the calf’s Dad remains. All our giraffes are on public view and can be seen at Into Africa.
- A bull giraffe may reach nearly 6m in height (over 18 ft).
- Giraffes have specially developed physiological adaptations to allow an even flow of blood to the brain when the neck is suddenly lowered or raised.
- Their long tongues, which can grow to 45cm in length, are used to pull leaves, shoots, bark and flowers off branches.
See recent pictures of our baby as well as other giraffes at Marwell