It's lucky number 32 for Auckland Zoo, who are welcoming their most recent giraffe calf, a leggy six feet tall (1.8 metre) female born to 13-year-old giraffe mum Rukiya and 17-year-old dad Zabulu.
The pair have had six offspring - and their newest arrival, born about 10.00pm last night, is happy, healthy and hearty.
Giraffes give birth standing up, with their calves dropping to the ground from a height of about six feet. Photo: Supplied / Auckland Zoo
In a statement released by the zoo, Pridelands team leader Nat Sullivan said: "Rukiya is such a fantastic mum, we really couldn't ask for better. Her calf was walking within half an hour, and has been suckling well."
Over the course of the next month, Rukiya and her calf will be re-introduced to Pridelands, where the four other giraffes in the herd live alongside zebra, ostriches and the huge southern white rhinoceros.
A full-grown giraffe's neck is 1.8 metres long - roughly the same length as Auckland Zoo's newest arrival. Photo: Supplied / Auckland Zoo
Though Rukiya's calf is currently 1.8 metres - a little over the average for baby giraffes (1.6 metres) - she may grow to be as tall as six metres high.
