The baby was born on Monday

The baby giraffe, which is almost 6ft tall, was born on Monday at Paignton to mother Kizi and father Paddy after a 15 to 16-month gestation period.

The pair's last youngster was born in September 2004, but died of heart failure shortly after birth.

Two previous calves, Kizlet and Zoolu, were hand-reared after being rejected by Kizi, a Rothschild giraffe from east Africa.

'Very attentive'

Senior keeper Jim Dicks said: "This time she is looking after her youngster and being very attentive and very calm.

"So far everything is going well."

Kizi was born in August 1993 and came to Paignton Zoo in May 2000.

Paddy was born in January 1991 and came to the Zoo in 1993.

When Zoolu was born in 2003 local dairy Definitely Devon had to keep him supplied with cream, after his mother rejected him.

Curator of mammals Neil Bemment said: "We are really pleased that Kizi has at last got the hang of motherhood, hopefully this promising start will mean that we can call off the milk-float loads of Gold Top."