Conservationists at Chester Zoo have welcomed a rare northern giraffe

Kris, a lively three-year-old male, has travelled from West Midlands Safari Park to meet the zoo's resident female herd.

His introduction has been carefully planned, with conservationists matching the animals based on genetics, age and temperament.

Zookeepers are hopeful his arrival will help to produce calves and strengthen the conservation breeding programme for northern giraffe - one of the world's most endangered giraffe species.

Fewer than 7,000 northern giraffes remain in the wild - driven by habitat loss, poaching and conflict with humans.

Rosie Owen, giraffe keeper at Chester Zoo, said:

“Kris’ arrival marks the beginning of an important new chapter for the herd here at Chester. 

“He’s already settling into his new home brilliantly. At just over three years old, Kris is still a young giraffe, but he’s full of confidence and is already getting to know the herd – and out of his five new housemates, four of them are older females who are all considerably taller than him. 

“He’s taking everything in his stride and we’re optimistic that, in time, our matchmaking will pay off andhe’ll go on to play a vital role in helping to save his species from extinction.”

Nubian giraffes, a rare subspecies of the northern giraffe, were once found across western Kenya, western Ethiopia, southern Sudan and Uganda, but their numbers declined by around 95% in just three decades. Today, they survive only in small, fragmented populations.

However, conservationists at the zoo say there is reason for renewed optimism.

Recent monitoring in Uganda revealed that Nubian giraffe numbers, including in national parks where the zoo and its partners are working, have increased year on year.

Stuart Nixon, African conservation expert at Chester Zoo, added:

“For more than a decade we’ve supported our in-country partners, the Giraffe Conservation Foundation and the Uganda Wildlife Authority, in their efforts to protect and recover populations of the Nubian giraffe – a subspecies of northern giraffe and one of the most threatened giraffes in all of Africa.

“The largest remaining population of Nubian giraffe, anywhere in the wild, is found in Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda. Our work here has included safely translocating genetically important giraffes from the herds there to help strengthen smaller, isolated populations elsewhere in the country. Alongside this, we’re also helping to carry out annual population surveys and provide practical support for ranger teams tackling the threat of wire snares and poaching.

“This work has seen the Nubian giraffe population increase by more than 600 individuals over the last 10 years, with numbers continuing to increase year on year. The recovery of the Nubian giraffe in Uganda is a massive success story and shows what science-led conservation can achieve. It also showcases why continued protection efforts in Africa, paired with coordinated conservation breeding in zoos, remain so important for the future of the northern giraffe.”

Pictured - A rare male giraffe, Kris, has arrived at Chester Zoo to help save his species from extinction.