Whipsnade Zoo has welcomed the safe arrival of two new baby animals. A long-awaited male giraffe came into the world on July 10 and a rare Przewalski foal was born three weeks ago.

The giraffe calf, which already stands at 6ft tall, was born to Savannah.

Zoo team leader Cliff Tack said: "We are delighted to have another giraffe calf here at Whipsnade and his birth is very important for the European breeding programme. He is a very lively character and his mother is coping very well."

The foal, pictured, who has been named Ula by her keepers, is enjoying bounding around her paddock in the Asia Drive Through. She was born to mother Jane and father Nicky.

Nicky was introduced to the females-only group last year with the hope he would choose a mate. The new arrival proved he managed to win Jane over.

Przewalski horses are the only breed of wild horses still in existence and are originally from Mongolia. They are genetically different from the domestic horse, having several different chromosomes.