Mburo has spent the first couple of weeks of his life at Chester Zoo inside bonding with his mother.
A two-week-old giraffe has put in his first public appearance.
Mburo was born at Chester Zoo on March 5 but has spent the first couple of weeks indoors bonding with his mother Dagmar.
Now the 6ft tall Rothschild’s giraffe has ventured outside for the first time, stretching his legs as he cantered around on Wednesday, which is also International Day Of Happiness.
Sarah Roffe, giraffes team manager at the zoo, said: “Since being born just two weeks ago, Mburo has been spending lots of quality time with mum Dagmar and the rest of the herd.
“Now he’s really found his feet and his confidence is coming on leaps and bounds – his little personality is really starting to shine through.”
Rothchild’s are among the most endangered of the nine sub-species of giraffe, with fewer than 2,650 remaining in the wild.
Mburo’s birth comes as Chester Zoo works with the Giraffe Conservation Foundation and the Uganda Wildlife Foundation (UWA) to help protect the Rothschild’s giraffe population.
“To see a young Rothschild’s giraffe calf strutting his stuff is really quite special – a real privilege when you consider that fewer than 2,650 remain in the wild,” Ms Roffe said.
“For many years they have been experiencing a silent extinction and it’s important that we help raise awareness of their plight and continue to help boost numbers in the international breeding programme, as well as assist with conservation efforts in Africa.”
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A beloved giraffe at a zoo in South Dakota has died.
On Thursday, the Great Plains Zoo and Butterfly House & Aquarium in Sioux Falls announced the death of Chioke, an 18-year-old reticulated giraffe. He died March 28.
“Following a severe fracture in his front left foot, Animal Care and Veterinary leaders made the difficult, but responsible, decision to humanely euthanize him,” the zoo said in a news release.
Chioke, born in Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida, came to the zoo in 2007. He grew to nearly 15 feet tall and sired three offspring, who went on to other zoos. The Great Plains Zoo remembered him for his playfulness.
He had recurring hoof and foot issues in his later years, including two fractures to the tip of his toe bone and resulting arthritis, the zoo said. He suffered a more serious fracture in March.
The zoo consulted nationwide for a treatment plan and used several methods, including drugs, rest and laser therapy, but ultimately decided to euthanize Chioke “due to quality-of-life concerns" after his team had ruled out immobilizing him for surgery or an orthopedic device, and X-rays showed the fracture had worsened.
Zoo staff visited the giraffe to say goodbye, feeding him apple biscuits, a favorite of his.
“We remember Chioke as a gentle, curious, mischievous giraffe who was always up for feedings and interacting with his keepers and guests,” the zoo said. “'Chioke' means ‘gift from God,’ and he certainly was."
This image provided by the Great Plains Zoo shows Chioke relaxing in an enclosure at the zoo in Sioux Falls, S.D., in May 2023. The beloved 18-year-old reticulated giraffe died, March 28, 2024, the zoo announced Thursday, April 4, 2024. Chioke, born in Busch Gardens in Tampa, Fla., came to the zoo in 2007. He grew to nearly 15 feet tall and sired three offspring, who went on to other zoos. (Great Plains Zoo via AP)
This image provided by the Great Plains Zoo shows Chioke plays with his ball in an enclosure at the zoo in Sioux Falls, S.D. , in July, 2021. The beloved 18-year-old reticulated giraffe died, March 28, 2024, the zoo announced Thursday, April 4, 2024. Chioke, born in Busch Gardens in Tampa, Fla., came to the zoo in 2007. He grew to nearly 15 feet tall and sired three offspring, who went on to other zoos. (Great Plains Zoo via AP)
This image provided by the Great Plains Zoo shows Chioke in an enclosure at the zoo in Sioux Falls, S.D., in March 2024. The beloved 18-year-old reticulated giraffe died, March 28, 2024, the zoo announced Thursday, April 4, 2024. Chioke, born in Busch Gardens in Tampa, Fla., came to the zoo in 2007. He grew to nearly 15 feet tall and sired three offspring, who went on to other zoos. (Great Plains Zoo via AP)
