Australian zoo welcomes birth of baby giraffe

Good things come in tall packages.

The Mogo Zoo in New South Wales, Australia, welcomed a new baby Rothschild giraffe on Jan. 27, the zoo announced in a press release. The zoo's staff was on hand to witness the birth of the nearly 5-foot-tall calf. Its mother, Shani, gently coached the newborn to its feet after licking it with her 18-inch tongue. In the wild, newborns are most vulnerable when on the ground, so mothers urge their babies to stand as soon as possible.

"I have witnessed many giraffe births and I am still amazed and relieved when I see that little baby giraffe with its long spindly legs shaking, and its coat still wet, get to its feet and start nursing, it is such a special and touching moment," Mogo Zoo owner Sally Padey said in the press release.

The baby giraffe, an unnamed female, was the fifth pure Rothschild giraffe born in the zoo, which are all offspring of Shani. The baby, which is said to be doing exceptionally well, is sister to Manzi, Binti, Tuli and brother Shaba.

Mogo Zoo says this giraffe birth is very significant to the Australasian Species Management Program as the Rothschild giraffe is one of the most endangered species of giraffe. The Rothschild (also known as a Baringo giraffe) inhabits protected areas in Kenya and Northern Uganda, and is threatened by drought, hunting, poaching and habitat encroachment.

The zoo believes another Rothschild birth provides hope for the species.