Baby Giraffe Stands Tall At Marwell Wildlife

27 April 10

Marwell Wildlife is celebrating the birth of its first pure bred Rothschild giraffe. Keepers have named the new addition Nsia, which means ‘the sixth born child’ in Akan, a language spoken in Ghana, west Africa. Pronounced ‘nseeah’, the name is very apt as she is the sixth calf born to her mother, Matilda.

 Giraffes are the tallest land animals in the world. When Nsia was born (5.30pm on Monday 19 April) she was already standing 6ft tall and weighing around 120lb (55 kilos). She will stay close to her mother for the next few months and will take several years to reach the lofty heights of Matilda, who stands at 14ft. 

 Nsia can be seen with her parents and the rest of the giraffe herd at Marwell Wildlife, which also includes Christa, Matilda’s previous calf. Section Manager, Ian Goodwin said: “We are all excited by the birth of our first pure bred Rothschild giraffe and hope Nsia’s arrival is the first of many.”

 Nsia’s arrival represents a significant milestone towards the conservation of this endangered sub-species. Both Nsia’s parents, Matilda and Kismet, are pure bred Rothschild’s giraffes, a sub-species of giraffe that are in danger of extinction. It is believed that there are only around 600 Rothschild giraffes left in a few protected areas in Kenya and in Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda.

 There is only one species of giraffe, with nine currently recognised sub-species. The different sub-species can be identified by their different patterns and also from where they originate from in Africa. Rothschild giraffes can be easily distinguished from other giraffes by their white socks and darker centres to their brown patches.

 Notes to editors

 High resolution images of Matilda and her new calf, Nsia are attached.

For further media information, or more images, please contact Helen Jeffreys, Marwell Wildlife Media Relations Officer. Email:  helenj@marwell.org.uk Phone: 01962 777947

Matilda is 13 years old and was named after the wife of the twelfth century king Stephen. She is the daughter of Dribbles and Harry.  Dribbles lived to be the oldest giraffe in the UK and died at an estimated age of 33.   

Kismet is 13 years old. He arrived at Marwell Wildlife two years ago from Flamingo land in Yorkshire. Kismet can be easily identified by his dark colouring and large size. He stands at around 17ft tall and is the tallest and largest giraffe at Marwell.

The mother giraffe gives birth while standing. At birth the single youngster may weigh 50 - 70 kg and reach 1.7 - 2m in height. It begins to eat solids after approximately one month and is fully weaned within a year.

Because of their great height, giraffes, which are ruminants (they chew the cud), are able to browse the uppermost branches of trees. Thus they face little competition from other herbivores. Their great height also gives them the advantage of seeing predators from a distance. They have few enemies beside humans. The time when they are most susceptible to attack from a lion is when they have their head lowered for drinking. When frightened they can reach speeds of 47 km/h (nearly 30 mph).

In the wild giraffes can be found living in small herds of five - 15 individuals, led by an adult male (bull). A bull giraffe may reach nearly 6m in height (over 18ft). However, like most mammals (including humans) they have only seven neck vertebrae, the bones being greatly elongated. Giraffes have specially developed physiological adaptations to allow an even flow of blood to the brain when the neck is suddenly lowered or raised.

Formerly owned by the Marwell Preservation Trust Limited, Marwell Wildlife remains a registered charity dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and other natural resources. Registered Charity Number: 275433.

Marwell Wildlife’s vision is: Living in balance with nature. The charity aims to share knowledge, engage people’s curiosity and encourage both their enjoyment of the present and responsibility for the future of our planet.

In pursuit of this vision Marwell Wildlife aims to:

Conserve species and their habitats, locally and globally.
Further understanding and inspire care for the natural world.
Share our knowledge including results from scientific studies.
Understand our impacts and improve our environmental performance.
Invest in individuals and communities

Marwell Wildlife’s zoological park provides a great way for visitors to enjoy the wonders of nature close-up, while also involving them in Marwell’s efforts to conserve endangered species and habitats, both locally and internationally. By providing people with a rich and memorable experience, Marwell aims to inspire people to help secure a better future for endangered wildlife for generations to come.

Marwell Wildlife is a member of the British and Irish Association of zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA).  BIAZA represents its member collections and promotes the values of good zoos and aquariums.