A rare giraffe zebra hybrid has been born at Chester Zoo, and cameras have captured the adorable new calf venturing outside for the very first time.
Conservationists at the UK’s biggest charity zoo say they are “celebrating” the arrival of a new Okapi calf – which is a “highly endangered” rare animal, also known as the forest giraffe – named Arabi, who was born to mum K’tusha and dad Stomp a couple of months back on 12 May.
Only scientifically discovered in 1901, and often referred to as the ‘forest giraffe’ because the species is only living relative of the long-necked animal, okapis are known for the elusive nature, and live in the dense rainforests of their native Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in central Africa – where it’s estimated that as few as 10,000 could remain.
The species is classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), meaning it faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Zookeepers say they chose to name the newborn Arabi after a village located in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve in the DRC.
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A rare giraffe zebra hybrid has been born at Chester Zoo / Credit: Chester Zoo
Chester Zoo and its partners in the DRC have been working hard to support the last remaining populations of okapi.
Commercial logging, open-cast mining, agriculture, and human settlement has resulted in the loss of the okapi’s habitat in the wild, which conservationists say can limit their access to food and water sources.
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The rare animals are sadly also hunted for their meat, while their skins are highly valued on the illegal wildlife trade.
Of the 14 okapi living in conservation zoos in the UK, six are being cared for by experts at Chester Zoo as part of the endangered species breeding programme.
Arabi’s arrival is a “vital” part of the global population, zookeepers say.
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Since her arrival into the world, Arabi has since been snuggled up in a nest in a behind-the-scenes area at Chester Zoo but now, at just six-weeks-old, the leggy newcomer has decided to kick up her heels and take her first steps following some gentle encouragement from her mum – with the calf’s first steps being captured on camera and shared on social media.
“Since being born just six weeks ago, Arabi has been bonding closely with mum K’tusha while snuggled away in her nest,” explained Hannah Owens – an okapi keeper at Chester Zoo.
“Mum has been doing a fantastic job of feeding and nurturing her calf every day, and now that she has a little more confidence, Arabi decided it was time to explore the outside world.
“It didn’t take long before she was confidently stretching her legs in the sunshine.”
The zoo says the species is ‘highly endangered’ / Credit: Chester Zoo
Giving a little more insight into just how important Arabi’s birth is to her species, Hannah continued: “Okapis are one of the least known and understood species on the planet, so every birth is incredibly special indeed.
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“This energetic little calf is already showing lots of personality.
“It’s going to be a real privilege to watch her grow and become a vital part of the global population of her species.”
Featured Image – Chester Zoo
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Rio Ferdinand is stepping away from TNT Sports after more than a decade
Danny Jones
Manchester United legend and ex-England international Rio Ferdinand has announced he will be stepping away from TNT Sports, leaving more than a decade with the broadcaster.
Ferdinand has spent the best part of the last 10 years serving as a leading pundit and analyst, as well as hosting his own ‘Rio Meets’ online series – the interview format of which has been replicated on his YouTube channel.
However, after having been one of their main anchors both under the BT Sport and even more so since the inception of the rebranded TNT Sports Football umbrella, the 46-year-old has confirmed he has now quit their regular coverage following the Champions League final this weekend.
In a lengthy statement on social media, the ex-Man United defender, who also played for Leeds, West Ham, Bournemouth and QPR, described it as a “difficult decision.”
Taking time to thank the network for their “tremendous support” over the years, especially those “behind the scenes, whose work often goes unseen but has been essential to our success.”
The talented centre-back retired in May 2015 after more than 500 appearances and 81 national team caps, making an almost immediate switch into punditry and remaining a household name.
Rio has also remained a popular figure at Old Trafford and, indeed, across various parts of Manchester since leaving United in 2014.
For instance, his self-titled Foundation has carried out some truly transformational local outreach across various boroughs, as it has back in his home city of London.
Responding to the news, TNT Sports said nothing more than “Thanks for everything, Rio”; meanwhile, fellow former Red, Danny Simpson (who retired last year and also works as a pundit/presenter for MUTV) added: “You’re going to be missed, bro. Every time you’re on, you give us all the mad insight.”
However, he has promised he will remain in the media industry, continuing to work under the Rio Ferdinand Presents digital brand and pursuing “other business interests”.
With his ‘Rio Reacts’ and ‘Vibe with FIVE’ series regularly raking in millions of views, he might not be on the box during European nights but you’ll still be seeing plenty of him.
Rare bat-eared foxes have arrived at Chester Zoo for the first time in more than 30 years
Emily Sergeant
It’s time to say a big hello, as rare bat-eared foxes have now arrived at Chester Zoo.
The two sisters, named Maasai and Malindi, have been welcomed by conservationists after travelling more than 500 miles from a zoo in Paris, and they are the first mammals of their kind to come to Chester Zoo in more than 30 years.
First images show the pair exploring their home in the zoo’s new Heart of Africa habitat – which officially opened to the public back in March, and is the largest zoo development ever undertaken in the UK, spanning more than 22.5 acres in size.
The adorable – but rather unique-looking – bat-eared fox is named after its distinctive oversized ears and is native to the open savannahs and arid grasslands of eastern and southern Africa.
They live for around 13 years on average, and their characteristically large ears help regulate their body temperature and enhance their incredible hearing, allowing them to prey like detect insects moving underground.
The species faces increasing threats in the wild, largely due to the loss of their habitat caused by agriculture, human encroachment, and hunting.
This is why Chester Zoo has long been at the forefront of protecting African wildlife.
Its teams’ have been supporting everything from the safe translocation of northern giraffes to protected national parks in Uganda, to developing cutting-edge AI trail cameras to protect giant pangolins from illegal trafficking in recent years.
Bat-eared foxes have arrived at Chester Zoo for the first time in 30 years / Credit: Chester Zoo
“It’s incredibly exciting to welcome bat-eared foxes back to Chester Zoo after a 30-year hiatus,” commented David White, who is the Twilight Team Manager at Chester Zoo.
“Both Maasai and Malindi are settling in well so far, spending much of their time exploring their expansive home and getting to know their new housemates – a family of twelve Cape porcupines. These two species would often come across one another in the wild, so we’ve recreated this right here at Chester.
“In time, we hope to introduce one of the two sisters to a male fox, with the hope that we can contribute to the European conservation breeding programme, helping to ensure there’s a healthy, genetically diverse back-up population in human care.
Emily Sergeant -
6th July 2023 
