VISITORS to Longleat Safari Park will soon be able to meet the latest addition to the park, Evan the baby giraffe.

Born over the Christmas holidays, Evan has now been allowed to go outside and enjoy the fresh air for the first time since his birth. Named after a long-term keeper, Evan and his mum Gertie were able to explore their park area together after Evan was being kept in a centrally-heated giraffery to ensure he became strong enough to withstand the weather.

Dan Gray, keeper at Longleat, said: “Gertie is a very attentive parent and an experienced mum. This is her third baby and she is taking extremely good care of him.”

The Warminster safari park has prided itself on being one of the most successful captive breeding programmes for this type of giraffe in Europe, with up to 122 baby giraffe born at Longleat.

“At this time of year we tend to keep the calves inside a little longer, particularly if the weather is poor, as it gives them more time to grow stronger and master their coordination.”

The Rothschild giraffes are considered to be one of the most endangered subspecies with only 1,500 estimated to be wild. When fully grown, the male giraffes can grow up to five-and-a-half metres tall and can reach speeds of up to 56 kilometres per hour. In captivity they can live to be 25-year-old.

“Once Evan reaches maturity the likelihood is he will leave Longleat to set up a new breeding programme elsewhere,” added Mr Gray.