WATCH: First moments of giraffe birth at Belfast Zoo

After a long wait of around 15 months, Daisy the Rothschild’s giraffe gave birth to Belfast Zoo’s newest addition on Thursday 20 June 2019.

Daisy started labour during the morning and visitors to the zoo were able to see the first few hours of birth. Daisy gave birth naturally with no medical intervention, however, the new calf will be monitored by the zoo’s veterinary and keeping teams.

The endangered calf, as yet unsexed and unnamed, was born to 9-year old mother, Daisy, and 11-year old father, Finn. This is the second calf for the pair; their son Gilbert was born in 2017 and is still part of the herd at Belfast Zoo.

Zoo curator, Raymond Robinson said: “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome a new endangered Rothchild’s giraffe calf to the herd at Belfast Zoo. Keepers first noticed signs of labour during the morning and monitored mother, Daisy, throughout the day. Visitors were able to see the first few hours of the birth and the calf arrived in the late afternoon without any medical intervention.

“Giraffes give birth standing up with front feet delivered first, followed by the head, neck, shoulders and finally back legs. Daisy and her calf will now spend some time together inside to bond and the calf will be monitored by the zoo’s veterinary team and keeping staff. This is Daisy’s second calf, measuring over five feet tall and it has already taken its first steps.”

Visitors can see the new calf and its herd at Belfast Zoo every day from 10am.  Last admission is at 5pm and the zoo closes at 6pm.  For more information visit