shirl
06-09-2008, 05:36 PM
THE baby boom at Dublin Zoo (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Dublin+Zoo) shows no signs of stopping with a new giraffe born there yesterday.
It's not yet known if the calf is male or female as zookeepers are keeping their distance to allow the mother and newborn to bond without interference. Instead they are monitoring mother and calf via CCTV.
A zoo spokesperson said that even the slightest human smell -- such as perfume or deodorant -- can knock the bonding process out of kilter.
The calf was born at around 2.30pm and will join a growing menagerie of newborns at the zoo.
Last month, zookeepers welcomed a female Southern White Rhino calf who weighed in at a hefty 70kg at birth. The calf, which managed to take her first steps within minutes of being born, was the first rhinoceros' birth at the zoo in 14 years.
Two new elephant calves have been born in the past year. Bull calf Budi was born in February while female calf, Asha, was born in May 2007.
A baby male giraffe, named Seanin, was also born at the zoo in June 2007.
- Breda Heffernan
It's not yet known if the calf is male or female as zookeepers are keeping their distance to allow the mother and newborn to bond without interference. Instead they are monitoring mother and calf via CCTV.
A zoo spokesperson said that even the slightest human smell -- such as perfume or deodorant -- can knock the bonding process out of kilter.
The calf was born at around 2.30pm and will join a growing menagerie of newborns at the zoo.
Last month, zookeepers welcomed a female Southern White Rhino calf who weighed in at a hefty 70kg at birth. The calf, which managed to take her first steps within minutes of being born, was the first rhinoceros' birth at the zoo in 14 years.
Two new elephant calves have been born in the past year. Bull calf Budi was born in February while female calf, Asha, was born in May 2007.
A baby male giraffe, named Seanin, was also born at the zoo in June 2007.
- Breda Heffernan