KEEPERS at Chester Zoo received the best Christmas gift they could have wished for when a rare Rothschild giraffe was born on Boxing Day.

The six-foot calf, yet to be sexed or named, arrived to mum Tula and dad Meru in the early morning and was up on its feet minutes later.

As a member of one of the most endangered subspecies of giraffe, the youngster is just one of the rare babies born this year thanks to the Zoo’s endangered breeding programme.

Team manager of giraffes, Sarah Roffe said: “Rothschild’s giraffes are highly endangered and so the arrival of a new calf is a major cause for celebration.

“It really is the best Christmas gift we could have ever have wished for.

“Shortly after being born, the calf was up on its feet within minutes which was really pleasing to see.

“When it gets a little more used to its long legs it will be introduced to the rest of the herd but, for now, it’s important that mum and calf spend a few days together striking up those early bonds.

“This iconic species is often overlooked in Africa and, sadly, Rothschild’s giraffes are experiencing a silent extinction.

“They are very much under threat in the wild, so it’s vital that our new calf helps us to throw a spotlight on this amazing species.

“Hopefully, our not-so-little arrival can generate more awareness of the huge pressures that Rothschild’s giraffes face in the wild.”

It is thought that less than 1,600 Rothschild giraffes live in the wild due to a loss of habitat and poaching for their meat which has driven the species to the very brink of existence.

Curator of mammals, Tim Rowlands added: “Our giraffe keepers have been out to Africa to lend their expertise and knowhow to an extremely important project which is aiming to improve the outlook for the species.

“Initiatives like this really show the role that modern zoos play in animal conservation and it will give us better understanding of how we can help protect the species and its future.”