A baby giraffe at West Midlands Safari Park has made its first public appearance. Named Mtembei, the calf was born on May 29, with CCTV capturing the heartwarming moment. Initially, Mtembei, a Rothschild’s giraffe, spent his first two weeks closely nestled with his mother. After this period, he was introduced to the rest of the herd.
The lively calf has since been seen joyfully sprinting around, displaying what are affectionately known as “zoomies,” much to the curiosity of the other giraffes. Lisa Watkins, the head keeper of ungulates, remarked, “He thoroughly enjoyed galloping around and stretching his legs, while the rest of the herd was thrilled to greet him.
“He is beginning to reveal his personality, and I’m certain we’ll see more of his character as he explores his new environment. He’s a calm calf, adapting well to his surroundings, just like his attentive mother, Arusha.”
Giraffes are considered a vulnerable species due to threats like habitat loss and poaching. The addition of Mtembei now brings the total number of giraffes at the park to eleven.