But just an hour after the birth, the infant at stood on spindly legs and wobbled as he took his first steps. The strong two-week-old calf stands more than six feet tall and weighs 160 pounds now.

For now, the newborn is partly separated - allowing our guests to see him - until he is well bonded and can be safely introduced to the rest of the herd. The charming baby giraffe welcomes visitors every day. With him, the European population of Reticulated giraffes has grown to 165 specimens. The Reticulated giraffe is one of the nine separate subspecies of giraffes.

Birth is significant as there are less than 80,000 reticulated giraffes in wild. Reticulated giraffes are native to Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia. In just 30 years the global giraffe population has fallen by up to 40% due to poaching for bush meat and habitat encroachment.

In 2006 Debrecen Zoo joined the EAZA's Reticulated Giraffe EEP aiming to protect the survival of this subspecies and since then it maintains the only Reticulated giraffe herd in Hungary.

Visitors are invited to name the giraffe calf here.

Photo: zoozoo.hu