Wildlife park echoes to the pitter-patter of tiny hooves

ONE of the star attractions at Fota Wildlife Park in Cork had double reason to celebrate this month.

Róisín, a 14-year-old giraffe, gave birth to a daughter called Caoimhe two weeks ago.

But just a week later, Róisín’s four-year-old daughter Maeve had a calf of her own, Cillian. He is still indoors but will soon be fit enough to join his mother, aunt and grandmother on the paddock.

Fota director Dr Neil Stronach said it is not unusual for a mother and daughter to give birth around the same time, despite a long gestation period of around five weeks.

“Giraffes have an almost continuous breeding cycle. We expect the next calves to be born to the herd again before the end of next year,” he said.

The park is also celebrating the addition of a female bison calf to the existing herd of five animals.

Freya was born to mother Helga and father Boris, members of the European bison species, which was reduced to just 13 animals as recently as the middle of the last century.

Visitors to Fota can also see a two-week-old zebra foal on the grassland this summer, as well as a week-old oryx antelope calf.

Despite the poor weather, Dr Stronach said visitor figures so far are well up on this time last year.

The wildlife park will remain open until the end of October.

Other new attractions include regular talks on various animals and their conservation, and a new giraffe slide, which is very popular with children.