Busch Gardens had a new arrival at the end of last year. A baby giraffe was born December 27th and is welcoming in the New Year at the Central Florida theme park. The little girl will join the other reticulated giraffes, which now totals 18, in a few months on the Serengeti Plain at the park.

The parents, Jafari and Tesa, have birthed four other calves of the herd. This birth is part of a breeding program that Busch Gardens participates in protecting the species. The mother often stands over the baby, as in this photo, and will kick at any predator that approaches.

The mother and baby are currently backstage at Busch Gardens. By the time you can view the new baby, she will be considerably bigger, but still a baby. She’ll stay fairly close to her mother for at least a year.

Last Updated on January 3, 2012