AL AIN // The latest addition to the Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort has everything a baby giraffe could need, except a name. But you can help with that. A competition has begun to name the rare three-month-old Nubian calf, which was born at the resort in February. Still a little unsteady on its legs and under the watchful eye of its mother, the young male made his public debut this week.
The arrival means Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort (AWPR) now has 25 giraffes of various subspecies. It is estimated that there are 100,000 giraffes remaining in the wild, with some subspecies already having become extinct. Farshid Mehrdadfar, AWPR's animal collections manager, said: "The Nubian giraffe is a rare subspecies of the giraffidae family that is found east of the Sudan and north-east of the Congo."
To take part in the competition to name the juvenile giraffe, visitors can collect a form at the ticket counter at the park entrance or visit www.awpr.ae. The competition runs until June 17 and the winning entry will receive a giraffe feeding experience for themselves and five guests, as well as free entrance to the park, a picnic lunch, and a souvenir toy. Anyone looking for inspiration can see the calf at the mixed African exhibit.
Summer hours are 10am to midnight on Fridays, and 4pm to midnight every other day. The giraffes are fed at 6.15pm. @Email:ealghalib@thenational.ae
