January 2008
Margaret, the new born Rothschild giraffe, is one of the smallest giraffes ever born at Chester Zoo and is also the first female Rothschild giraffe born at the Zoo.
Currently being hand-reared by dedicated keepers after showing difficulty suckling, Margaret is the first calf born to six-year-old mum Fay. The small giraffe was born two weeks early and weighed in at only 34 kilos and stood at only 5 ft tall - pretty small by giraffe standards.
Team leader of the Giraffes Section, Tim Rowlands, said: "Margaret is potentially one of the smallest giraffe calves we have ever seen. Fay isn't the largest of giraffes and Margaret was also early which might go some way to explaining her size."
Chester Zoo has a proven track record for breeding giraffes and keepers are delighted with the new addition to the herd. Margaret's arrival is great news for the species as there are only 600 Rothschild giraffes left in their wild habitat of Kenya and Uganda.
Visitors can see Margaret - named after keeper Tim's mother - in the giraffe house at the Zoo. Chester Zoo is home to hundreds of animals and makes a great family day out. Book with Holiday Extras today for tickets and an overnight stay in a nearby hotel - a perfect short family break.