Zoo welcomes second baby giraffe

Keepers at Chester Zoo are celebrating the birth of their second rare giraffe within two months.

The rare Rothschild breed giraffe, born at the zoo on 31 March, has been called Niamh by staff.

Niamh, who is already 5ft 11ins (1.8m) tall and weighs 110lbs (50kg), is said to be making "great progress".

She joins baby Margaret, who became the first giraffe born at the zoo when she arrived in January. She is being hand reared by keepers.

Niamh is being reared by her mother Kelly, who is one of seven giraffes now living at the 110-acre zoo.

Staff said the arrival of Niamh was cause for celebration with only 600 Rothschild giraffes left in the wild.

Away from Cheshire, they are more usually seen in the lowlands of Kenya and Uganda in Africa.

Mike Jordan, curator of birds and mammals, said: "We have an excellent track record when it comes to our giraffe breeding programme, which is all the more important when you consider that Rothschild giraffes are so scarce in the wild.

"Kelly is already an accomplished mother and is looking after her new charge well.

"To have two youngsters just a couple of months apart is very special and I am sure they will be delighting our visitors in no time at all."

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