Watch this heartwarming scene as two young giraffes venture outside for the first time at West Midlands Safari Park.
Namara, born on 8 October last year, and two-month-old Olive, born on 20 January 2026, have been waiting patiently for milder, drier conditions before stepping outdoors.
In the lead-up to Mother’s Day, and closely supervised by their mothers, Akacia and Arusha, they discovered their new environment and properly encountered other herd members for the first time.
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Big sister Emali (the trio share the same father) was among the first to approach, offering them a gentle nudge with her nose, before Henry, one of the herd’s eldest members, welcomed them with a ‘lovely lick’, reports Birmingham Live.
Head Keeper of Ungulates, Lisa Watkins, said, “We are delighted that Namara and Olive have taken their first steps onto the safari, and have met some of our guests.”
“Over the last few months, both have been introduced to all members of the herd including dad, Rufus, in the comfort of the giraffe house.
“This has gone brilliantly, so the final step was to introduce them to the great outdoors, where they will spend most of their time with the herd and meeting their neighbours, including white rhino, Grevy’s zebra and Congo buffalo.
Baby giraffe takes its first steps at West Midlands Safari Park(Image: MATTHEW LISSIMORE)
“Namara was a bit cautious and unsure of her new surroundings to begin with but soon settled down. In contrast, on Olive’s first day out, she had the ‘zoomies’ and was excited to explore all areas with confidence.
“The calves’ mothers, Arusha and Akacia, have been exemplary – guiding, protecting and gently encouraging the babies to explore.
“A beautiful reminder that a mother’s love is the first safe step into the world.”
The two calves represent excellent news for the giraffe EEP (EAZA Ex-situ Programme), which coordinates collaborative breeding initiatives across European zoos and wildlife parks aimed at protecting endangered species. Northern giraffes are presently classified as ‘vulnerable’ to extinction, facing threats including habitat loss, poaching and climate change, making every birth critically important for the species.
All calves born at the park in recent years share the same father, 15 year old Rufus, and they have several older siblings, including brothers Kris, Kingsley and Mtembei, making the pair the first female arrivals since their older sister Emali in 2016.
The calves will spend their early years at the park, developing within the herd, cared for by the keepers and getting to know the other animals.
It is anticipated that in years to come, they will move to other wildlife parks to have calves of their own and carry forward the vital work of the EEP, protecting the species.
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