TARONGA Western Plains Zoo have welcomed a bubbly female calf to their ever-growing giraffe family.
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Born on Sunday, October 19, Ajali is the second bundle of joy to join the herd in the past 12 months and the eight calf born to mother Tuli.
But zoo keeper Anthony Dorrian said there could be more calves on the way.
"Giraffe herds tend to give birth in clumps, so we're not ruling it out just yet," Mr Dorrian said.
"Only time will tell."
Mr Dorrian said a newborn giraffe stood between 160to 180 centimetres.
"It's very important for newborn giraffes in the wild to stand on their feet within the first hour after their birth," he said.
"Otherwise, they become an easy target."
Staff at the zoo have enjoyed watching Ajali discover her surroundings over past week.
"She's a very inquisitive creature," Mr Dorrian said.
With the August arrival male calf Nkosi now sharing the limelight with Ajali, Mr Dorrian said there had been no signs of trouble.
"They're both getting on quite well, in fact I think Nkosi is enjoying taking on the older brother role," he said.
Promotions and public relations manager Shallon McReaddie said the new addition to the zoo would be popular with visitors.
"I think our visitors will enjoy seeing the variety of ages in our giraffe herd," Mrs McReaddie said.
"Now that we've got two calves around, people will really get on board watching them grow in the enclosure."
The plans for Ajali's future in Dubbo are up in the air at the moment.
Mr Dorrian said when the time comes for Ajali to start breeding, she may be shifted to another zoo.
"Her father is the only breeding male we have in the enclosure at the moment, so unless we get another male in the next few years, we will have to think of alternative options."
