Zoo's giraffe mum Kay finally makes it a girl

Auckland zookeepers arrived at work this morning to a new addition to the family - a giraffe calf, the first female giraffe born at the zoo in 15 years.

Experienced mum Kay and the leggy newcomer have undergone vet checks and are in good health.

The new arrival was on its feet soon after birth. Weighing in at approximately 55kgs and standing 1.8m (6ft), the newborn calf appears confident and relaxed.

She is the third offspring of 21-year-old Kay and nine-year-old dad Zabulu, and a competition is underway to name her.

"It was wonderful to come into work this morning and see two healthy female giraffe - one mum and one baby. We knew the birth was imminent and had been monitoring Kay carefully.

"As with all her other deliveries, she took it all in her stride. She is a great mum, bonding really well with her calf, and doing all the right things," says Auckland Zoo Pridelands team leader, Michael Batty.

The birth of a female calf is significant in the Australasian region, as she provides valuable genetic stock for future breeding. "After Kay's five previous pregnancies, all resulting in males, we were hoping she would produce a female," says Mr Batty.

Mum and daughter will gradually be integrated with other giraffe, zebra and ostrich in the giraffe paddock, and visitors can expect to see them out and about strutting their stuff sometime within the next few weeks.

The zoo is calling on members of the public to help name the new female giraffe, with the winner getting a behind-the-scenes tour of Pridelands, including the chance to meet the giraffe they named.

How to enter the naming competition: * Email aucklandzoo@aucklandcity.govt.nz by Friday 10 August with your suggested name with subject line 'Zoo giraffe naming competition' * include your the meaning or translation of your suggested name - a name of cultural significance is recommended * include contact name, address and phone number * the winning name will be selected on 13 August and the winner will be notified by phone, with details of the name posted on www.aucklandzoo.co.nz * the prize of a behind the scenes tour is for four people and does not include transport. .

Did you know?

* a newborn giraffe stands1.8m tall - about the same size as an All Black lock forward. It needs to be this tall to reach its mother's milk * it is thought that the dark colour of their tongues protects them from getting sunburned while reaching for leaves on trees. They also have thick, sticky saliva that coats any thorns they might swallow * giraffe have the same number of vertebrae in their necks as humans: seven. Each one is just much bigger.

ENDS

ABOUT AUCKLAND ZOO: Auckland Zoo is an enterprise of Auckland City Council. It is home to the largest collection of native and exotic wildlife species in New Zealand (over 1500 animals and 200 species) and attracts over half a million visitors annually. It is becoming increasingly well known nationally and internationally through the award-winning television programme, 'The Zoo'. At the heart of all Auckland Zoo's work and activities is its mission: "to focus the Zoo's resources to benefit conservation and provide exciting visitor experiences which inspire and empower people to take positive action for wildlife and the environment". Auckland Zoo is a member of both the Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks & Aquaria (ARAZPA) and the World Association of Zoos & Aquariums (WAZA).

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