Auckland Zoo welcomes new baby giraffe

The sixth offspring for Rukiya and 17-year-old dad Zabulu was born just after 10pm. Photo: Auckland Zoo.

Auckland Zoo is celebrating the arrival of its latest giraffe calf - a 1.8m female to 13-year-old giraffe mum Rukiya.

The sixth offspring for Rukiya and 17-year-old dad Zabulu was born just after 10pm on Thursday 23 April.

You can see the baby giraffe in a video recorded when it was just 30 minutes old.

"Rukiya took about an hour and half to deliver this little one, which is on a par with most giraffe deliveries," says Auckland Zoo's Pridelands team leader, Nat Sullivan, who witnessed the birth.

"She's such a fantastic mum, we really couldn't ask for better. Her calf was walking within half an hour, and has been suckling well."

"It was so great to see the birth. Even though I've seen many here over the years, to me it's still one of the coolest things you can ever experience," says Nat.

Rukiya and her calf will be gradually integrated with the rest of the giraffe herd, zebra and ostrich in the giraffe paddock in Pridelands over the next month.