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Giraffe calf - Source: ONE News -
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Auckland Zoo's new baby giraffe has been getting his first look at the great unwashed.
Jelani was born at the zoo just over two weeks ago and since then has been getting to know some of the other animals.
He was in the public enclosure for the first time on Saturday morning, but staff then took him back inside to have some quiet time with his mother.
Zoo staff say he will be spending longer periods outside as the days go on and should be fully accustomed to his world in time for the school holidays.
Standing 1.8m tall and weighing a healthy 55kg, Jelani is the third offspring of nine-year-old mum Rukiya and 11-year-old Zabulu, who are also parents to Forrest - now at Australia Zoo. Their first calf, born in May 2006, did not survive.
At some Jelani will be relocated to another zoo in the Australasian region as part of the breeding programme.
Auckland Zoo's giraffe population will increase to four in the coming months when a female giraffe arrives from Adelaide's Monarto Zoo.
