After a complicated birth, the BIOPARC Valencia team had to care for the little giraffe who was only a few days old. The encouragement of his “sister” born a month ago, whom he follows by imitation, has been fundamental.

Valencia, May 15, 2014.- BIOPARC Valencia's new giraffe calf seems to have been born at the best time, due to the experience and quick intervention of the park's technical team and, above all, the proximity of his “sister” who will be one month old on Sunday, have saved his life.

Last Sunday at dusk Zora, the first female of the Baringo giraffe subspecies to arrive at BIOPARC Valencia, went into labor. Although it is a giraffe that has already had other calves, the birth was difficult and very long and the female is finally not taking care of the little one. The fact that at this time the park caretakers are hand-rearing with “giant” bottles another giraffe has stimulated the new calf to quickly begin making the first and vital feedings.

Both offspring are very important because They are part of the European program (EEP) that is about save the Baringo subspecies from extinction. Julius is the father and with this new birth BIOPARC Valencia consolidates itself as a reproduction center for these giraffes.

The image is now really curious because the interior enclosures of the BIOPARC Valencia giraffes have become a true “nursery”. The feedings have been synchronized to be carried out at the same time by two different caregivers and another female, “Che”, remains alert for the two little ones.

This subspecies Rothschild or Baringo (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi) is distributed in northern Uganda and southern Sudan. Its gestation period is around 450 days. They tend to be births of a single specimen and their life expectancy: 10-15 years in the wild and 20-27 in captivity. It is seriously threatened in the wild, as Its population continues to decline every year.