Baby giraffes make first appearance at West Midlands safari park
The baby northern giraffes made their way on to Safari Drive for the first time
Two baby northern giraffes at West Midlands Safari Park have taken a big step in their young lives this week, as they ventured out onto the Safari Drive for the first time.
Now the weather is warmer and drier, Namara, who was born on 8th October last year and two-month-old Olive, who was born on 20th January 2026, were able to take their first steps into their outdoor safari habitat.
Both calves explored the area under the watchful eyes of their experienced mothers, Akacia and Arusha, who were never too far away, but were happy to let other members of the herd come over to introduce themselves properly.
Big sister Emali (all three have the same dad), was one of the first to come over and gave them an encouraging nudge with her nose, followed by one of the oldest members of the herd, Henry, who greeted them with a lovely lick.
Head Keeper of Ungulates, Lisa Watkins, said, “We are delighted that Namara and Olive have taken their first steps onto the safari, and have met some of our guests. Over the last few months, both have been introduced to all members of the herd including dad, Rufus, in the comfort of the giraffe house. This has gone brilliantly, so the final step was to introduce them to the great outdoors, where they will spend most of their time with the herd and meeting their neighbours, including white rhino, Grevy’s zebra and Congo buffalo.
“Namara was a bit cautious and unsure of her new surroundings to begin with but soon settled down. In contrast, on Olive’s first day out, she had the ‘zoomies’ and was excited to explore all areas with confidence. The calves’ mothers, Arusha and Akacia, have been exemplary - guiding, protecting and gently encouraging the babies to explore. A beautiful reminder this Mother’s Day that a mother’s love is the first safe step into the world. They will definitely be getting some extra treats and love on Sunday.”
The two calves were great news for the giraffe EEP (EAZA Ex-situ Programme) which supports collaborative breeding efforts between European zoos and wildlife parks to conserve endangered species.
Northern giraffes are currently listed as ‘vulnerable’ to extinction, due to threats such as habitat loss, poaching and climate change, so every birth is hugely important for the species.
All the calves born at the Park in recent years share the same dad, 15-year-old Rufus and they have several older siblings, including brothers Kris, Kingsley and Mtembei, making the pair the first female arrivals since their older sister Emali in 2016.
The calves will spend their first few years at the Park, growing amongst the herd, tended to by the keepers and meeting the other animals.
It is hoped that in the future, they will go on to other wildlife parks to have calves of their own and continue the important work of the EEP, safeguarding the species.
Guests can see the calves, with the rest of the herd on the Safari Drive, the African Walking Trail, or the Giraffe Safari Lodges.
West Midlands Safari Park is open on selected dates during the winter season and guests can book in advance online for the best prices, which also includes a free return visit.