AN ENDANGERED species of giraffe has been born at Barcelona zoo – 10-year-old Nuru, from Emmen zoo in The Netherlands, gave birth this month and mother and baby are both doing well.
According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), giraffes are now an endangered species, and certain strains of them even more so.
This 'makes the existence of the species in safari and zoo parks absolutely essential', says the IUCN – and the world's zoo network is attempting to breed at least 500 of them in order to reintroduce them to the wild after they have been raised specifically to enable them to cope.
At the moment, no plans are afoot to release giraffes into Africa, their native continent, until guarantees are in place that they will be safe, but it is hoped this will start once systems are in place.
Most safari reserves of the type visited by tourists on animal-spotting trips, such as Kruger Park in South Africa and the Masai Mara in Kenya, are patrolled by anti-poaching officers who will shoot to kill if they see a human unlawfully killing or trying to kill animals which roam wild there.
The latest newborn is a Rothschild giraffe, one of those which, it is feared, will become extinct unless efforts are stepped up to save them.
He has not yet been named – and, in fact, was born on February 16, but zoo staff did not release the news straight away until they were able to be sure he was in good health and would survive.
That said, several visitors were lucky enough to actually witness Nuru giving birth.
She was given the right environment to ensure humans did not disturb her and she would not be aware of their presence as she went into labour after 450 days' gestation.
Now, she and her baby are in a separate wing, so they will not be hassled by the other giraffes, and can be cared for round the clock.
Barcelona zoo is working with authorities in Niger for the conservation of the Peralta giraffe, one of the most iconic species in the Sahel region of the Sahara desert, and which is in 'serious danger' because of climate change.
The aim is to aid their survival and encourage their breeding in their natural habitat rather than in captivity.
