After a 472-day pregnancy and a three-hour labor, Orla can finally take care of her baby. The Rothschild giraffe calf, one of the most endangered subspecies, weighed, as soon as it was born, more than seventy kilos and measured almost two meters in height, according to the Chester Zoo, one of the largest and most important enclosures in all over the UK.
His way of coming into the world has surprised many, who are unaware that the tallest mammal in the world gives birth standing up, a somewhat "dramatic" way because they hit a bed of soft straw, in this case.
"This is totally normal and is actually a very important part of the birth process: the impact of the fall stimulates the calf and encourages it to take its first steps," they explain from the zoo, which has published the moment in which the giraffe comes into the world.
Orla is an experienced mother, the center's specialists say: "We are seeing all the right signs from her: she is very affectionate and allows her little one to suck frequently while giving him little pushes of encouragement, especially since her baby is a little unstable on her feet. its long legs."
The calf, which was born on March 12, still does not have a name. And the sex of the giraffe has yet to be determined, Chester Zoo notes in its latest statement.
Rothschild's giraffes are an endangered subspecies. It is estimated that there are only 2,500 individuals left in all of Africa and the last great stronghold is now Kenya and Uganda. For this reason, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is on the Red List, a compilation of the most endangered animals.
Previously, tens of thousands of Rothschild's giraffes were counted in Kenya, Uganda and Sudan. However, their population has suffered a 90% decline in recent years as a direct result of poaching and habitat loss.
The workers at this zoo work in collaboration with local entities to safeguard the last remaining specimens in Africa and also take care of those housed in their facilities, ensuring their well-being and reproduction.
